HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 22: On the fourth day of the Paryushan festival, which coincided with Uttam Soch Day, Ashok Singhal, the state minister of Urban Development and Irrigation, visited Acharya Pramukh Sagar Ji Maharaj at Mahavir Dharmasthal in Fancy Bazaar, Guwahati. The purpose of his visit was to seek the blessings of Acharya Pramukh Sagar Ji Maharaj.
During the visit, Acharya Pramukh Sagar Ji Maharaj blessed minister Ashok Singhal by presenting him with Amrit Kalas and a garland made of coral crowns. As part of his Dharma Pravachana on this occasion, Acharya Pramukh Sagar Ji Maharaj emphasised the significance of the Paryushan Festival, a time when the arrival of Gods and Goddesses is celebrated.
Related Posts:
Acharya Pramukh Sagar Ji Maharaj also stressed the importance of cultivating good habits on this fourth day of the Paryushan Festival. He believed that adopting good habits could lead to success and prosperity in life. The Acharya expressed concerns about the prevailing state of the world, where increasing greed often accompanies rising profits. He reflected on a time when people lived in peace and dedicated themselves to spiritual practices.
However, he observed that today’s society is dominated by mobile phones, which he considered a dangerous distraction. He believed that as people pursued more opportunities, they grew further apart from their true selves.
Minister Ashok Singhal, in his speech, praised India’s rich traditions, values, and culture, highlighting chaturmas as one of the valuable traditions. The minister inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp and unveiling the image of Shri Pushpadanta Sagar Ji Maharaj.
During the event, various individuals performed traditional rituals to welcome the guests. Kamal Jain applied a tilak, Shri Digambar Jain Panchayat president Mahavir Jain presented a gamosa, and secretary Birendra Sarawagi and Ashok Chabra offered a chadar. Omprakash Sethi, the chief publicity convener of the Samiti, greeted the guests with garlands.
Minister Singhal also extended congratulations to four brothers and sisters who had observed penance for 32 days as part of the festival. The Paryushan Parva, a significant event in Jainism, began on September 19 at the Sri Digambar Jain Temple in Fancy Bazar and will continue until September 29.
The festival features various activities, including Shanti Dhara for world peace at 5:30 am, Vishesh Puja recitations starting at 6:15 am, and sessions of Swadhya, meditation, Pratikraman, and Maha Aarati (ceremonial evening prayer) from 6 pm onwards.
The Paryushan Festival brings together people of all ages and genders, who participate in collective worship and ceremonies. This year, Anita Jain, Sangita Jain, Nemichand Jain, Vijay Sabalawat, and Kapil Jain are observing a 32-day fast for self-purification.
The festivities will culminate with a procession from the Jain Temple on September 28 (Chaturdashi Day), during which all those who have observed the fast will be honoured in a fitting manner. Kishore Kumar Jain, the convener of the publicity committee, shared these details in a press release.
