30 lakh people to witness 'Mahamastakabhisheka'

The little town of Shravanabelagola, famous for the monolith, Gommateswara, is bustling with activity. It is readying itself for the ensuing Mahamastakabhisheka (anointing ceremony).

Expectations are high, with a number of senior Jain monks already in Shravanabelagola, and more pilgrims and visitors, including a large number from abroad, expected for the anointing ceremony of the huge granite statue, atop the Vindhyagiri Hills.

The colourful anointing ceremony of the 1,025-year-old 57-foot colossal monolith is expected to attract over 30 lakh pilgrims from India and abroad.

Work on erecting a number of temporary shelters for different categories of people with all possible amenities is on briskly. Roads leading to the Jain centre are being redone and a new railway line between Bangalore and Shravanabelagola is expected to be thrown open to take passengers directly to this ancient town.

The once-in-12-years grand event is held for nine days, starting February 8 with 108 Kalashabhisheka, the first of the Mahamastakabhisheka. This will be followed by 504 Kalashabhisheka the next day, and with 1,008 Kalashabhishekas on February 12 and February 13, February 15 and February 16, and February 18 and February 19.

The days in-between will witness special programmes "" Sarvatobadhra Mahajpooja to 24 Thirtankaras at Bhandari Basadi on February 11, Abhishekha Mahapooja to Sahasrakoota Jinabimba on February 14 and Saraswathi Jinavani Sastra Mahapooja on February 17. The Pancha Kalyana begins on February 4.

Preparations for collecting articles and items needed for anointing the statue of Bahubali began on a religious note on January 16, under the supervision and guidance of the Jain centre's chief Charukeerthi Bhattaraka. This includes 10,000 kalashas (pots) required to be filled with holy waters and items to be offered to Bahubali.

This will be followed by formal inauguration of the Mahotsav on January 22 with programmes and aradhanas.

Several other activities have been slated during the anointing period, several other activities have been slated and they comprise preachings of Bahubali's ideals, a literary meet, poets' meet, cultural programmes, talks on architecture and Vaastu, and an event exhibition.

During the 10-hour anointing ceremony during the nine days, appointed priests will stand on a temporary wooden structure behind the huge statue and anoint it with water, tender coconut water, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, herbal concoction, saffron, gold and silver flowers, precious stones and finally with a shower of flowers.

The regional tourist office in Mysore is handling a number of enquiries from visitors and intending pilgrims on the ensuing great anointing ceremony.

"We are gearing up for more enquiries," the tourist officer told Business Standard.