An Extraordinary Display of 871-Year-Old Faith at Chadar Mahotsav; Sacred Chadar of Dadagurudev Brought Out from the Knowledge Treasury after 150 Years, Grand Procession Taken Out from Sonar Fort
Devotees showed immense enthusiasm during the chadar offering and ritual ablution
Residents of Jaisalmer welcomed the procession and saints with flower showers
The State View Jaisalmer Sunil Sharma
Under the three-day Dadagurudev Chadar Mahotsav being held in the Golden City of Jaisalmer, a historic and grand procession filled with devotion, faith, and spiritual fervor was taken out on Friday. On this occasion, after nearly 150 years, the 871-year-old sacred chadar of Dadagurudev Shri Jindattsuriji Maharaj was ceremonially brought out from the Jnana Bhandar (knowledge treasury) of the Parshvanath Jain Temple located inside Sonar Fort.This sacred chadar holds immense religious significance in the Jain community and is regarded as a symbol of deep faith. After the procession reached the festival venue, it turned into a religious assembly where the sacred chadar was ceremonially anointed with vasakshep and holy water brought from Gangotri and Mansarovar.
The event was organized under the aegis of the Dada Gurudev Shri Jindatt Suri Chadar Committee. Prominent dignitaries present on the stage included Gachadhipati Acharya Shri Jinmaniprabha Suri, Acharya Shri Manojnya Sagar Suri, Vasant Vijay Ji, festival committee president Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MLA Mahant Pratap Puri, Chhotu Singh Bhati, and Arvind Singh Bhati.The National Convenor of the Chadar Mahotsav in Jaisalmer is Tejraj Golechha, Padam Tatiya serves as the National Secretary, Prakash Chand Lodha is the Coordinator, and Mahendra Bhansali is the Co-Coordinator.The presence of Jain as well as Hindu saints on both sides of the stage added to the spiritual dignity of the program.
Large Crowd Gathered to Witness the Sacred Chadar from the Fort
On this occasion, Gachadhipati Acharya Shri Jinprabhamani Surishwarji Maharaj said that when the Amarsagar Jain Temple was established, the chest containing the sacred chadar was not opened and was directly installed at the consecration site. Today, as the sacred chadar has been brought out and devotees are able to have its darshan, it is a moment of great pride and fortune for everyone.
He paid tribute to the revered Vriddhichandraji Maharaj of Jaisalmer, who had brought this sacred chadar from Patan to Jaisalmer nearly 150 years ago and installed it here. He also expressed gratitude to the Jaisalmer Jain Trust and the local Jain community, including families settled outside Jaisalmer, for preserving this invaluable heritage with devotion for so many years.
He further said that Jaisalmer is a place where people from across the country and the world visit, and where communities of 36 castes live together. Therefore, a special museum dedicated to Jain heritage and history should be established here to preserve and showcase the principles and cultural legacy of Jainism.
Sacred Chadar Taken from the Fort to the Festival Venue
Padam Tatiya, National Secretary of the Chadar Mahotsav Committee, informed that under the guidance of Gachadhipati Acharya Shri Jinmaniprabha Suri and Jain monks, the sacred chadar was brought from Sonar Fort to Gadisar Circle, where it was placed on a specially prepared grand chariot.
After that, Acharya Shri Jinprabhamani Surishwarji Maharaj and Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha flagged off the massive procession. Throughout the route, people from all communities welcomed the sacred chadar with flower showers.
Procession Featured Elephants, Horses, Camels and Cultural Performances
Thousands of devotees, Jain monks, nuns, and saints participated in the grand procession. It included 21 decorated horses, 21 camels, 2 elephants, 20 Nashik dhol teams, a Kachchi Ghodi folk dance troupe, a specially decorated chariot, and folk artists from various states, which became major attractions.
Drone showers of flower petals added to the festive atmosphere, filling the surroundings with devotion and celebration.
The procession started from Gadisar Circle and passed through Nagar Parishad, Air Force Circle, Neeraj Circle, Hanuman Circle, and Geeta Ashram Road, before reaching the festival venue at Deddansar Mela Ground. Devotees gathered along the route to catch a glimpse of the sacred chadar and raised devotional slogans.
Sacred Chadar Brought to the Stage through Navkar Tableau
At the festival venue, as per tradition, the sacred chadar was placed in a special glass enclosure. In the presence of Acharya Shri Jinprabhamani Surishwarji Maharaj, the ceremonial lighting of the lamp was performed, followed by the ritual ablution and worship with Vedic chants.
The chadar had been brought in a specially designed chariot decorated in the shape of a ship. On this auspicious occasion, the benefactor family for the chadar offering was Gautamchand, son of Pannalal Kawad from Tamil Nadu, while the first ritual ablution was performed by Ravindra Kumar Bansawat of Phalodi. The benefactor family performed the rituals in the presence of Jain monks.
10.8 Million Devotees Participate in Global Recitation of Dadaguru Iktisa
During the Mahotsav, a global spiritual pledge was taken for the recitation of Dadaguru Iktisa Path. Jain devotees across the world together completed 10.8 million recitations, setting a historic spiritual milestone.On this occasion, Gachadhipati Acharya Shri Jinmaniprabha Suri announced that every year on March 7, devotees of Dadaguru across the world will collectively recite the Iktisa Path.
Union Minister Praises the Significance of the Sacred Chadar
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the sacred chadar has come out after 150 years, and due to the efforts of the Chadar Mahotsav Committee and Jain Trust Jaisalmer, lakhs of devotees will be able to have its darshan during the festival. He added that this sacred chadar is believed to have protected Jaisalmer from epidemics in the past.Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha also addressed the devotees during the procession and said that it was an emotional moment to see such a massive gathering of Dadaguru’s devotees.Thousands of devotees from across India and abroad are participating in this historic celebration. The entire city is witnessing an atmosphere filled with devotion, faith, and spiritual energy. Extensive arrangements for security and management have been made by the administration and the organizing committee for the smooth conduct of the event.
Author: thestateview
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