HYDERABAD: Call it superstition or innocence. A 13-year-old girl, who was devoted to community rituals, was allowed to observe 68-day-long fasting without taking water and food resulting in her death.
The deceased was identified as Aradhana, class VIII student of St Francis school in Secunderabad.
While the family members have regretted over sudden death of Aradhana after 68 days fasting, child welfare activists blamed the family for allowing her to observe such risky fast.
Hours before her death, Aradhana played with her grandfather Manikchand holding his hands and listening to slokas that were recited by him. Around 11.30 pm on October 3, she fell sick, exactly two days after breaking her 68-day-long fast. Immediately, she was shifted to hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.
Aradhana, who had a desire to become a nun, was attracted towards her religious traditions since her childhood. "It was not first time that Aradhana observing fast as part of rituals. She had obesrved eight-day fast in 2014 and 34-day fast in 2015. This year, she was inspired by Navkar mantra that have 68 words in our community," said Aradhana's grandfather Manikchand, with tear-filled eyes.
Explaining about Aradhana's fast, Manickchand said they had allowed the girl to do such extreme fasting for 68 long days, as she was healthy. "She abstained from food during the holy period of
Chaumasa from June to October for 68 days. She had broken the fast by taking liquids on October 2. She had been healthy till October 3 and she had played with me by holding my hands and listing to the slokas recited by me. Suddenly, she collapsed at home and died," Manikchand lamented.
Keeping in mind of his grand daughter's death, the 69-year-old grandpa advised the girls and women who want to do such long fast as part of community rituals to take precautionary measures over their health. "We know the pain after the sudden demise of my beloved granddaughter," said Manikchand, while holding back tears.
Aradhana's father Lakshmichand, who runs a jewellery business in Secunderabad, denied allegations that they had allowed his elder daughter Aradhana to observe such long fasting for getting profits in his business.
"Aradhana wanted to become a nun by attracting towards rituals of Jains community. I asked her to take a decision after she becomes 16 years old. In monsoon season, we have a ritual to observe fast to become as Bal Tapasvi," the explained.
"A Guru administered oath with Aradhana by examining her health condition everyday for all the 689 days during her fasting. During the 68 days, she was fit. However, two days after she broke fasting, she died," Lakshmichand said.
Further, Lakshmichand regretted his decision of allowing his daughter to observe fast for such a longer period. "Being a father of a girl, why would I kill my daughter for the sake of rituals? I never expected that fasting would cut my kids' life short. It is a nightmare for all my family. I still not believe the death of my elder daughter," Lakshmichand wept.
In fact, Manickchand's forefathers were natives of Rajasthan. They came to the city in 1857. Since then, the families have been living in the city by doing jewellery business. The family of Manikchand is a financially sound and well educated too. Some of family members are working as doctors while others are in business sector.