Next mahamastakabhisheka to be a simple affair

Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji of Jain Mutt in Shravanbelgola has decided to keep the mahamastakabhisheka of Bahubali to be held in February 2018 simple in view of the drought in Karnataka.

Speaking at the national-level Digambara Jain Committee meeting held in Shravanbelgola on Wednesday, the seer said, “Karnataka is facing drought. People are facing acute shortage of drinking water. Farmers lost crop due to loss of rainfall. At this juncture it would be appropriate to have the event simple.”

The event is scheduled for February 2018. “We can organise the event by planning some major projects, like we did in the past. But we will keep the programmes simple with minimum expenditure. However, development works in the place will go on. We will not compromise with arrangements necessary for devotees visiting the place from distant places to witness the event,” he said.

Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala, Hassan district in-charge Minister A.Manju, legislators C.N. Balakrishna, G. Madhusudan, and M.A. Gopalaswamy and office-bearers of Jain committees spread across the country participated in the meeting.