1500 Jains take part in Mahavir Jayanthi Rath Yatra

Jain community members take part in a holy procession on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti celeberations in Puducherry on Tuesday. Photo G.Krishnaswamy

Over 1500 people took part in the Mahavir Jayanthi Rath Yatra that started on Bharathi Street and ended in Vallalar Salai on Tuesday.

The procession was flagged off by MLA Lakshminarayanan on Bharathi Street. The procession marked the 2612 celebration of Mahavir Jayanthi, one of the members of the Jain Association said.

There are three Jain temples in Puducherry, one on Bharathi Street, one in Anna Salai and the third in Vallalar Salai. The biggest of the three is on Vallalar Salai, and it is a Digambar temple, the member said.

The idea was to end the procession at the Digambar temple, where prayers were offered.

There are around 2000 Jains in Puducherry, and many people came in from Cuddalore and other neighbouring areas as well.