Nitish inaugurates two-day Pawapuri Mahotsav

BIHARSHARIF: Chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the two-day 'Pawapuri Mahotsav' at Pawapuri in Nalanda district on Saturday, commemorating the 2,549th Nirvana of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankar of Jains. The CM also offered prayers at Shwetambar and Digambar Jain temples before leaving for Patna.
Hundreds of Jain pilgrims witnessed the inaugural function after attending religious ceremonies conducted at the two temples here.Before the inauguration, a 'kalash procession' was also taken out by the Jain community from the Digambar Jain temple.
The CM appreciated the efforts of officials of different government departments who put up stalls showcasing the works being undertaken by them. Giving it a touch of national event, Nalanda district administration along with the state art and culture department, has made arrangements of proper lighting, parking lots and toilets at the venue.
School and college students from across the district also took part in 'rangoli' making and painting contests conducted by the district administration in association with other departments on the occasion. A dance-drama based on various stages of Lord Mahavir's life was presented by Kala Sangraha, a cultural organization, while a folk song by artists of Kala Vikas Sansthan.
Reiterating their demand, the president of Jain Sangh, Pradeep Jain, said, "Pawapuri, which was also known as Apapuri- a place free from sins, should be declared as a holy place and the sale and consumption of meat, tobacco and liquor should be banned here."
State finance, commercial taxes and parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, state rural development minister Shrawan Kumar, Nalanda MP Kaushlendra Kumar, Nalanda DM Shashank Shubhankar and SP Ashok Kumar Mishra were among others present on the occasion.