Jain devotees flock to rare ceremony

Ashok Patni, a member of India's Jain community, paid a massive 10 million rupees (US$222,000) for the privilege of being the first to make an offering to his god during a ceremony that occurs only once every 12 years.

Accompanied family mem-bers, Patni poured coconut water from a silver vessel while standing on scaffolding erected behind the towering naked statue of Jain god Lord Bahubali in this town in the southern state of Karnataka.

He was among more than 25,000 members of the Jain faith who attended the first day of the Mahamastaka Abhisheka, or the 12-yearly head-anointing ceremony, to honor Lord Bahubali which is expected to attract up to 3 million faithful.

Devotees milk, coconut water and sugarcane juice as an offering over the 1,024-year-old statue of Bahubali, built by former Hindu ruler Chavundaraya.

Wearing robes and a small metallic crown for the occasion, Patni described the moment as "touching."

"It is not a matter of money," said Patni, director of R.K. Marbles, one of the world's largest marble companies.

"The Jain Trust is planning to build a children's hospital with the money. So it is going for a good cause. More than that I want this event to be a part of my family history. My children will get to know more about the Jain religion and imbibe its values," Patni said.

The secretary of the Shravanabelagola Festival Committee, L.S. Jeevendrakumar, said the Jain Trust would spend the money on organizing free lunches for the poor, education and medical facilities.

"This is one way of raising funds for welfare activities," he said.

"The minimum rate for an offering is 3,400 rupees and depending on the day, time and the choice of offering, rates can vary from 50,000 rupees to upwards of 200,000 rupees. The lower end has been sold out," he said.

Patni to pay a premium because there was a "huge demand for the slot," he said.

Charukeerthi Bhattaraka, the main priest of Shravanabelagola, said 108 pilgrims performed the ceremony on Wednesday's opening day followed by 504 devotees yesterday, the second day.

"For the remaining seven days 1,008 pilgrims will be involved daily," he said.

To the beating of drums and Hindu prayers, the pilgrims with their hands raised toward the 18m high stone statue chant hymns as Jain priests wearing orange clothes perform religious rituals.

All roads leading to the holy shrine have been sealed off by police and pilgrims have to trek more than 2km to reach the hillock.