Feb 9-18: Mahamastakabhisheka at Dharmasthala

Belthangady: The 4^th grand celebration of the Mahamastakabhisheka of the 39-foot-tall Bahubali at Rathnagiri in Dharmasthala will be held from February 9-18^th, announced Dharmasthala Dhamadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade at a press conference on Wednesday Jan 2^nd.

Dr Heggade said that the Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in the presence of Vardhamana Sagar Munimaharai and Pushpadanta Sagar Munimaharaj under the guidance of Charukeerthi Bhattaraka of Shravanabelagola.

This will be the 4^th Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara since its installation in 1975 with the previous Mahamastakabhishekas having being held I 1982, 1995 and 2007.

The Mahamastakabhisheka will be held after holding the panchakalyana programme of Theerthankaras for five days. A procession will be taken out from Bhagvan Chandranath Swami Basadi to Rathnagiri on Feb 9^th.

The 1,008 kalashas Mahamastakabhisheka of Bahubali will begin from 8 am onwards on Feb 16, 17 and 18^th. There will also be a variety of cultural programmes held on the occasion, said Dr Heggade.

Vice-president to participate

It is mostly confirmed that the Vice-president of India Venkaiah Naidu will be participating in the Mahamastakabhisheka programme and the only the dates remain to be finalized. Several other dignitaries including the governor, chief minister, union and state ministers and others are expected to participate in the occasion.