New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Karnataka is still awaitingfinancial assistance from the Centre for Jain festival'Mahamastakabhisheka' in Hassan district scheduled to be heldin 2018, a state minister said today.
Celebrated once in 12 years, the 'Mahamastakabhisheka' --the anointment of Gomateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola --will be held between February 7 and February 26 next year.
"Preparations for the biggest Jain festival are in fullswing. Already, 75 per cent of the work has been completed.
Works on road connectivity and other infrastructure are inprogress," State Minister for Sericulture and Animal Husbandryand also in-charge of Hassan district A Manju told reportershere.
The state government has released Rs 263 crore fororganising the festival, out of which Rs 88 crore is beingspent on roads and other infrastructure development, he said.
Asked if the central government has released any fund forthe festival, Manju said, "We are still waiting for that. Wehad submitted a proposal seeking Rs 500 crore long ago."In 2006, the Centre allocated Rs 30 crore for thefestival, while the state spent Rs 90 crore, he said.
Asserting that the entire work will be completed in time,the state minister said more funds were required as thegovernment were using superior technology to ensure visitorswere able to get a 360-degree view of the entire anointingceremony.
The entire ceremony will be telecast live via website andmobile app for the benefit of the entire Jain community acrossthe world, he added.
About 12 temporary townships are being set up on 487acres of land to accommodate more than 25,000 visitors, hesaid.
Water supply facilities are being upgraded, he said.
Early this year, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowdarequested the central government to ensure a grant of Rs 500crore for 'Mahamastakabhisheka', which the finance ministryhad denied. PTI LUXSMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.