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Fervent welcome to Jain idols
The Jain idols being brought to Mattancherry for installation.
ALMOST ALL members of the 300-odd Jain families in the city gathered at the house of Narendra Shantilal Shah Mittaiwala on Gujarati road in Mattancherry on Tuesday.
For, he had won the bid to keep the two idols that arrived from Mumbai. These two idols, that of Bhagwan Adeshwar Prabhu and Guru Gautam Swami, will be kept at Narendra Shah and Bharati Ben's home for two days before being taken to the Chandraprabhu Jinalaya, the Jain temple where renovation work is being undertaken.
The idols were made at Jaipur and then taken to Kutch for "pran pratista''. They were then brought to Mumbai by train. "They were brought to the city two days ahead of installation as we could not risk the possible delay involved in the transportation. They have to be installed in the temple between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Thursday,'' said Pravin C. Shah, president of the Shree Cochin Swetamber Murtipujak Jain Sangh.
From the Cochin International Airport Limited at Nedumbassery, the idols were brought to the Kuvapadam junction in a motorcade, where a big crowd was waiting. Drums came alive and devotees dressed up for the special occasion started the procession to Narendra's home. The mood was festive. Animated discussions and curious spectators accompanied the idols.
Pomp and celebrations accompany the idols.
Narendra's sons, Ronak and Rusab, accompanied the idols in the chariot. At the entrance of the home, guests were received in the customary manner - a tilak on the forehead and a one-rupee coin in their palms. "As with all Jain customs, there is no compulsion to perform them. Even if someone chooses not to do it, he will not be criticised.''
But on Tuesday, nothing was lacking. Guests, including the policemen present, were treated to a customary snack. The idols will be moved to the temple, again in procession, on Thursday morning. Till then, pujas will go on. "Our pujas are mostly musical in nature.''
However, the installation ceremony on Thursday will be a temporary one. The official ceremony will be held in November when the renovation is over. Incidentally, the Dharmanatha Prabhu Jinalaya, placed alongside this temple, will complete its centenary year in November.
The centenary celebrations will also mark the temple becoming a Jain Teerth, an important pilgrim spot for a Jain. This will be the first Teerth in the State, making the event all the more important.
By Anand Haridas
Photo: Vipinchandran
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