Over 1,000 Jain devotees converged at Jain Bhavan on Ekambareswarar Koil Agraharam Street in Park Town, marking the biggest ‘Bhikshu Daya’ celebrations in the city on Sunday. Sporting white attire, the men led the life of a Jain monk for a day on the occasion of Bhikshu Daya.
“The devotees would stay away from their routine life and live like Jain monks for a day,” said Siddha Chand Lodha, committee member of Sree S S Jain Sangh, Sowcarpet, which is organising the event. “They would completely keep away from their homes, do not even use any communication gadgets including cellphones,” he said.The devotees would read the preaching of Lord Mahavir throughout the day from 7 am till 8 pm. Besides, they would listen to spiritual discourse of Jain monks. “Through this exercise, a person would practically experience the lifestyle of a Jain monk,” Lodha said.
Meanwhile, Sri Gowtham Muniji Marasath Pratham and Vaibhai Muniji Marasath are in Chennai. Arriving in the city by ‘Padha Yatra’ from Bengaluru beginning July 3, the monks would stay in the city for the following five months.