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CURTAINS RING DOWN ON
MAHAMASTHAKABHISHEKA, MUNISHREE TARUNSAGAR TAKE CENTRE STAGE
Shravanabelagola, Feb 19: As the
curtains came down on the new Millennium's first Mahamastakabhisheka on Sunday,
the temple township witnessed the biggest ever turnout of devotees and tourists
from different parts of the country and the world to witness the celebrations.
Roads were jam packed and the Mutt authorities in a bid to satisfy the waiting
thousands, reverted to the new practice of allowing even those without passes to
have a glimpse of the celebrations without allowing them up the jam packed
platforms. The final day's proceedings were supervised by MMC06 President Naresh
Kumar Sethi. Huge queues in front of the Vindhyagiri Hills continued till late
in the evening and into the night even after the Mahamastakabhisheka
celebrations, which commenced on January 22, ended at around three p.m.
Revolutionary Jain Monk Tarun Sagar assumed the centre stage of the celebrations
on Sunday. Going up the scaffolding immediately after the Pushpa Abhisheka, the
fiery advocate of peace and non-violence addressed the devotees from right above
Bhagawan Bahubali's head as 6, 000 odd jam packed devotees on the platform
greeted the hugely popular monk with a loud roar.
Addressing the devotees, Munishree Tarun Sagar pointed out that peace and the
Jain ideals can reign only if it reigns in the house and urged all to take a vow
that every mother in law would be loving and kind to daughters-in-law and vice
versa, and that every son or daughter will take care of the aged, ailing and the
old. As the devotees moved by the occasion and the spectacle of the
celebrations, roared in approval, the Monk said peace in the house was essential
for peace to reign in the world.
Munishree Tarun Sagar said Bahubali and his ideals were not limited just to
Jains, and added that the giant monolith and the messages of peace and non
violence he symbolizes, belongs to one and all, across faiths and religions.
"The new millennium's first Mahamasthakabhisheka has been a grand success and if
peace reigned in the world during this period, it was because of the homage that
was paid to the supreme votary of peace and non-violence- Bhagawan Bahubali," he
declared and rushing down from the scaffolding, went to devotees in different
platforms blessing them all.
Among the VIP visitors at the celebrations on Sunday were Union Minister of
State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Mr.K H Muniyappa and Gujarat
Governor Naval Kishore Sharma.
Speaking to mediapersons, Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji said an
estimated 25 lakh people attended the celeberations, which ended on Sunday
evening. While everything went according to the plan, the political changes
during the course of the celeberations has delayed the formal inauguration of as
many as 15 different projects which have been completed. Stating that these
projects will be inaugurated over the next few weeks and months, the Swamiji
thanked both te Union and State Governments for their support.
Later, at the concluding ceremony held to felicitte the officials and people's
representatives involved in the conduct of the celeberations, ex-Minister H D
Revanna said the partnership between the Government and the Mutt had worked
well. "The minor hic ups which came out during the conduct of the celeberations
were corrected along the way," he added and thanked Shravanabelagola MLA C S
Putte Gowda for his role in the celeberations.
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