Photos: Thousands revel in the Gomateshwara Bahubali anointment ceremony
Updated On Feb 28, 2018 12:59 PM IST
Observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle, the Mahamastakabhisheka or the head anointing ceremony to the statue of Lord Gomateshwara Bahubali began on Saturday in Karnataka and will last till February 26.
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A devotee touches the feet of the monolithic statue of Jain deity Gomateshwara Bahubali as he celebrates the Mahamastakabhisheka, or the head-anointing ceremony of the statue, in Shravanabelagola. The ceremony unfolded on Saturday at this pilgrimage centre amidst a montage of traditional rituals.
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The statue of Gomateshwara is illuminated ahead of the inauguration of Mahamasthakabhishek at Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, 150 km from Bengaluru on Friday. Observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle, the veneration ceremony this year is the 88th in the series that commenced in the year 981 A.D. The majestic 57-feet statue, carved out of a single piece of rock, is said to be the world’s tallest monolith. (Shailendra Bhojak / PTI)
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Pilgrims visit the shrine of Gomateshwara.The rituals began with priests and devotees carrying 108 holy vessels from the Digambara Jain mutt to the Vindyagiri hills, the venue of the event. As many as 1008 vessels will be used for the Mahamastakabhisheka. (Aijaz Rahi / AP)
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Devotees carry an elderly pilgrim in a palanquin as they make their way towards the shrine. Located between the two hillocks of Vindyagiri and Chandragiri, Shravanabelagola has been a Jain pilgrimage centre for the past 2,500 years and stands testimony to ‘Tyaga’ (renunciation) and the message of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence), which embody the Jain way of life. (Aijaz Rahi / AP)
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The statue was bathed by devotees using an ‘attanige’ (huge scaffolding) erected for the purpose, with libations such as water, coconut water, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste and precious stones, amidst the chanting of hymns. (PTI)
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Devotees offer flower petals on the 58 feet monolithic statue of Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali on the second day. (PTI)
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Devotees sprinkle rice flour on the monolithic statue of the Jain deity Gomateshwara. (Abhishek N. Chinnappa / REUTERS)
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Devotees daubed in turmeric paste stand next to the feet of statue as they celebrate the anointing ceremony. (REUTERS)
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Turmeric runs down the 58.8-foot monolithic statue at Shravanabelagola. (Aijaz Rahi) / AP)
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Women devotees sit at the feet of the monolithic statue of Jain deity Gomateshwara as they celebrate the anointing ceremony of the statue. While lakhs of people are thronging to the shrine to participate in what is also called as ‘Jain Maha Kumbh’, only several selected devotees made their way up the 618 steps leading to the statue. (REUTERS)
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Updated on Feb 28, 2018 12:59 PM IST