The colourful procession involving hundreds of folk troupes and tableaux attracted a huge crowd on the eve of the anointing ceremony here on Friday. The event served a prelude to the grand spectacle scheduled to be held on Saturday atop Vindhyagiri.
The procession began at three different locations – Gommata Nagar, Pancha Kalyana Nagar and Deve Gowda Circle in Shravanabelagola at 2 p.m. The Jain Mutt has organised the grand anointing ceremony.
A tableau with a replica of Bahubali Statue led the procession that began at Pancha Kalyana Nagar. Another tableau depicting the contribution of Jains to Kannada literature carried idols representing Pampa, Ponna, and Ratnakaravarni, among others. A tableau showcasing the achievements of Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain Mutt was a special attraction. It included structures representing Prakrit Study Centre, which was set up by the seer.
Golden chariot
A golden chariot, donated by Kamal Kumar Tolia, a devotee based in Chennai, was placed in front of Vindhyagiri. Mr. Tolia, who is president of Jain Samaj, spent nearly ₹1.5 crore on the chariot. He chose the occasion of the 88th Mahamastakabhisheka to donate it. Along with the golden chariot, a silver chariot with the mutt, a few palanquins were part of the procession.
Hundreds of youths from different parts of the State and the country participated in the procession exhibiting their talents. Stilt walking, dollu kunita, kasmale, pooja kunita, jaggalike mela, nadaswara, goravara kunita, hulivesha, veeragase, and chande vadya, were among the folk troupes in the procession. As many as 40 folk troupes sponsored by the Kannada and Culture Department also took part.
