Congress MLA from Belagavi North Feroz N. Sait called upon elders in the society to inculcate the spiritual values as preached by Bhagwan Mahavira.
Speaking at an inaugural function organised on the occasion of Mahavira Jayanti at Mahavira Bhavan here on Thursday, he said that “peace” stood personified in Bhagwan Mahavira, which was also the essence of his life and values he believed and practised.
At a time, when contemporary society is plagued by various social evils inculcating the values of Bhagwan Mahavira and other saints would go a long way in establishing a harmonious world order where people could live in peace.
Jain Muni 108 Pratik Sagarji Maharaj graced the occasion.
Tableaux
Small Scale Minister and district in-charge Satish L. Jarkiholi inaugurated the celebrations and later a cultural rally, consisting of more than 50 tableaux on different themes and messages of Bhagwa Mahavira, was taken out through the main roads and streets of the city. Various cultural programmes were held later in the evening.
Among other prominent persons present on the occasion were Veerkumar Patil, MLC, Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, among others.
The festival was celebrated with the traditional grandeur in Yadgir and Kalaburagi districts on Thursday. In Yadgir city, members of the Jain community and religious heads participated in a colourful procession in which the portrait of Mahavira was carried in a van.
Later Superintendent of Police M. Muthuraya inaugurated the Mahavira Jayanti celebrations at Mahavira Bhavan. In Kalaburagi also, similar celebrations were held.
In Bidar, rituals like puja, dhwajarohana and cradle ceremony were held in the Chandraprabha Jain temple in Shah Gunj.
A mass lunch was organised in the afternoon. Different types of rituals were held at various Jain shrines in Dharwad.
An attractive procession carrying the portrait of Lord Mahavir was taken out from Adinath Digambar Jain Basadi of Hosayellapur in the morning. Devotional dances and songs by girls were the highlight of the event. Children dressed as mythological characters and grabbed the attention of the onlookers.
The programme began with a ceremonial bath being performed to the Bhagawan Mahavira idol followed by special puja which was performed by the Jain Mahila Mandal.
