HT Digital,
Ahmedabad, April 15: A businessman from Gujarat, Bhavesh Bhandari, and his wife have pledged their lifetime earnings of Rs 200 crore to charity and are preparing to adopt a monastic life. Earlier in February, the couple donated their entire wealth in a formal ceremony.
The Bhandaris, originally from Himmatnagar, were involved in the construction industry. They have chosen to follow their son and daughter, who embraced monastic life in 2022 at the ages of 16 and 19 respectively.
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Mr. Bhandari, a member of the Jain community, had been accustomed to a prosperous lifestyle from a young age due to his involvement in the construction business in Sabarkantha and Ahmedabad. During the February event, the couple led a procession of 35 people over a distance of four kilometres, during which they donated all their possessions, including mobile phones and air conditioners.
Footage from the event shows the couple in royal attire on a chariot, making their donations. Post their formal pledge on April 22, the couple will sever all family ties and give up all material possessions.
They will then begin a journey on foot across India, surviving only on alms. It’s noteworthy that in Jainism, taking ‘diksha’ involves a deep commitment, where individuals give up material comforts and modern technology, live solely on alms, and travel barefoot across the country.
