Fasting, prayers and community service mark Mahavir Jayanti celebrations in city

Visakhapatnam: The Jain community came together to observe and celebrate one of their most significant festivals—Mahavir Jayanti—the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankara. As per the Hindu calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on the 13th day of the Chaitra month.
While the Shwetambar Sthanakwasi sect of Jains marked the day by observing fast and reading the holy books, the Murthipujak Shwetambars took out a procession in Visakhapatnam city on Wednesday.
Prakash Kochar, of the Shwetambar Sthanakwasi sect, said, “Since Shwetambars do not believe in idol worship, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated by observing fasts, meditation and organising small programme like skits to remember the teachings of Lord Mahavir. Since it is considered good to donate food and clothes to the needy on this day, the community people distributed packets of food in the orphanages and old age homes.”
Later, silent prayers (pratikraman) were offered, which are meant to repent for non-meritorious activities.
Members of the Sree Visakha Jain Murthi Pujak Sangh carried the idol of Mahavira in a ‘shobha yatra’ (procession) from the Jain temple near Poorna Market and reached Dadabadi in Maharanipeta on Wednesday morning. The statues of Mahavir were given an ‘abhisheka’ (ceremonial bath).
Different organisations of the community organised ‘jal seva’ (free drinking water) in different areas on the occasion.