SHRAVANABELAGOLA: The Mahamastakabhisheka celebrations in Shravanabelagola are becoming colourful with each passing day as the steady flow of Jain devotees into this town from various parts of the country and abroad continues. The commissioning of the railway line between

Hassan and Shravanabelagola has helped pilgrims, particularly those from north India, to visit Shravanabelagola. Besides, hundreds of buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation are also helping pilgrims and tourists reach the town. According to sources in the Mahamastakabhisheka Committee, over 20 lakh people have visited Shravanabelagola in the past 27 days.

While over 6,000 Kalasha holders, special invitees and mediapersons get to watch the anointing ceremony of Bahubali atop the Vindyagiri till afternoon every day, the people are allowed atop the hill in the evening.

The pilgrims and tourists are also visiting Chandragiri, which has a large number of inscriptions and Basadis.

The area in and around Bhandara Basadi wears a festive look with people visiting it to have a glimpse of the 24 Thirthankaras. The pandal in front of the Basadi is adorned with 35 paintings of noted artists such as K.N. Ramachandran, Khande Rao, M.B. Patil, J.M.S. Mani, Roopa Hassan, Ramesh Rao, M.S. Murthy and B.G. Desai.

Volunteers are busy creating awareness among pilgrims about the importance of maintaining hygiene in this pilgrim town. Walking on the temple street is a rare experience for tourists, especially those from abroad, as vendors have set up shops to sell turmeric, vermilion, colourful dhotis, shawls and Bahubali statues and artefacts.

Exhibition

But those who have set up stalls at the Bharatesha Vastu Pradarshana are complaining owing to the thin attendance of pilgrims as the venue of the exhibition is 3 km away from the main town.

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