HYDERABAD: After the grand Buddhist festival of `Kalachakra', which had highlighted the religious places of Buddhists, the Government is now planning to organise a similar festival to bring the historic and sacred places of Jains to the fore.

The week-long festival likely to be organised in November will have organised tours and infrastructure is to be strengthened at the sacred places called `Tirthas' or `Tirthakshetras' as they are sanctified by the holy `Thirthanakaras'.

Archaeological material

The impact of Jainism was as widespread as Buddhism in the State as a number of structural remains, pillars, sculptures, inscriptions, temples and other archaeological material can be found in three to four places of almost each district in Andhra Pradesh.

Tourism Secretary Chitra Ramachandran said the department intends to firm up the plans for the conduct of the festival by interacting and taking suggestions of prominent persons of the community, religious heads, philanthropists, research scholars and others in the coming weeks.

`Tirthakshetras' are to get a major facelift with cleaning up and building of basic infrastructure facilities for pilgrims and tourists.

Archaeological evidence points out that Jainism had reached the State as early as sixth century B.C.

Royal patronage

Jain literature has many references to suggest patronage by Satavahanas, the early rulers of Andhra Pradesh.

Recent Archaeological finds have been unearthed at Kapparaopet (Karimnagar), Guntupalli (West Godavari), Vaddamanu (Guntur) and Malkonda (Prakasam).

Since Jain monks were also forest recluses and wandering ascetics, they preferred to stay in natural caves.

Stupas, gateways, statues and temples and cave architecture are found in Konakondla and Rayadurg (Anantapur), Adoni and Chippagiri (Kurnool).

The festival would provide a chance to relive and recount the cultural heritage and religious diversity of the country and Andhra Pradesh in particular, feel officials.

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