The grand 10 day long festival at the foot hills of Mangi Tungi peaks will see more than 25 lakh devotees witnessing the ceremony of dedicating the idol of Lord Rishabhdeva. The idol which is carved out of a single rock is 108 feet tall and 184 sq feet in size and stands as the world’s tallest Jain idol.
The 57 feet idol of Lord Bahubali in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka stands next.
The inspiration for this idol was given by the revered Jain sadhavi Ganini Pramukh Gyanmati Mataji in 1996. It took almost five years for the geologists to find out single intact rock in this range, which is situated at 4,343 ft above from sea level to carve out the idol. Shilapujan was done in 2002. Sculptors from Jaipur worked tirelessly to carve the idol for last twelve years. More than 10,000 truck load of rock material was carved out for the purpose.
Considered to be very auspicious
Mangi Tungi hills are considered to be very auspicious as it is believed that thousands of Jain monks have attained emancipation here. The idol of Lord Rishabhadeva - the first out of 24 Jain Teerthankars, and father of Lord Bahubali at this place is hence considered to be an important happening for the pilgrimage.
The consecration ceremony – the Panch Kalyanank Prartishtha, of this idol at the Jain pilgrim place will be a week-long ceremony where in hundreds of Jain Acharyas, Upadhyayas, Munis, Aryikas, and Digambar Jain saints from across the country will participate. Devotees have officially registered so that they can perform the rituals.
Following the 10 days ceremony, a month long Mahamastakabhishekam will start from February 18 till March 13. This ritual being held for the first time at Mangi Tungi and will be performed after every 12 years.
Rs 70 crore sanctioned
Elaborate arrangements have been made by the state government who has sanctioned Rs 70 crore as plan development of the Mangi Tungi pilgrimage. For the grand event beginning from Thursday, devotees from all over the country and abroad are expected to stay at Mangi Tungi. 4500 tents with attached toilet and bathroom facilities, VIP tents, bungalows, halls, and pandals have been erected over 150 acre of levelled land. A grand pandal of 1 lakh sq ft has been constructed where all the rituals will be performed.
The organising committee has made a schedule for devotees attending the Mahamastakabhishekam to avoid the rush and likewise those from Surat and Gujarat can visit on February 21, from Delhi, NCR and Mumbai on February 22, Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Purvanchal and Northern states on February 23 to 26, Ahmedabad region, Gujarat on February 27, Indore, MP, and Chhattisgarh on February 28, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Belgaon on February 29 and other visitors from February 29 to March 13.
Maharashtra government has made arrangements for medical aid with 44 specialist doctors from across Nashik and other districts. Special arrangements for parking, buses have also been made.
Security arrangements have been made by Nashik rural police and extra force including bomb detection and disposal squads, riot-controlling-van, have been deployed. Fire-fighting-tenders have been posted.
Ministers to attend
Dignitaries like the prime minister, chief minister, and other union and state ministers have been invited for the event.
While the speaker of state legislative assembly, Haribhau Bagade, and some state ministers are expected to attend on Thursday, BJP president, Amit Shah and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis are expected to attend in the coming few days.
Maharashtra water resource minister and Nashik guardian minister Girish Mahajan, divisional revenue commissioner Eknath Davale, district collector Dipendrasingh Kushwah, Special IG police, Nashik range, Vinay Kumar Choube, district superintdent of police Sanjay Mohite, have reviewed arrangement at the venue. The organising committee of the grand event is working relentlessly.
