Karkala Mahamasthakabhisheka: Most special 'kalashas' of final day sold out

MANGALURU: The Pratham kalasha'', the first of the 1008 Kalashas used to anoint Lord Bahubali on the final day of the 10-day mahamasthakabhisheka'' has been sold out. It has been bought by Karnataka Jain Association for Rs 5 lakh, which was the price, fixed by the mahamasthakabhisheka Kalasha committee.
Unlike Venur mahamasthakabhisheka the committee has decided not to auction the 1008 kalashas of the final day event.At Venur a Delhi based businessman RK Jain had bought the Pratham Kalasha'' for Rs 11 lakh.
The next pricey kalasha will be Poornakumbha kalasha'' which is priced half of pratham Kalasha at Rs 2.5 lakh. But for those (only Jains get this honour) who want to take part in the last day abhishekha, there are several other kalashas available starting with Bhakthi kalasha'' priced at Rs 2,555.
The major 15 kalashas - four Chatushkona Kalasha priced at Rs 50,000 each, Ksheerabhisheka Kalasha (Rs 2.5 lakh); Shriganda and Chandana (Rs 2 lakh each); Astagandha, Arasina, Kashaya (Rs 1.5 lakh each); Ikshurasa (Rs 1 lakh); Yelaneeru (Rs 75,000); Kalkachoorna and Pushphavrasti and Hoomale (Rs 50,000 each) and Aarathi priced at Rs 25,000 are already taken.
Nemiraj Ariga, president of the Kalasha Committee told TOI: Already we have sold 500 of the 1008 kalashas available on the final day. They have bought by people in Dharward, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura. We will keep some for those who visit the festivities and they will be sold at counters.
We have consciously avoided auctioning of kalashas as it would lead to lot of disturbance during the celebrations and will also disturb devotees witnessing the grand spectacle conducted once in 12 years,'' said Ariga.
The first to ninth day kalashas starting with 108 and going up to 908 have been bought by families who will be performing abhisheka on the particular days. Prominent among those who have bought these are Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade (908) and SCDCC Bank chairman MN Rajendra Kumar (508).