Once every 12years in Shravanabelgola, India

Just wanted to let others know about this event since I will not be able to make it. Once every 12 years there is a big festival that takes place at the Jain temple in Shravanabelgola, Karnataka. It is the bathing ritual of the 18 meter tall statue of the Jain saint Gomateshwar. I was there just over a week ago and the town was gearing up for it. They expect a lot of pilgrims and from what I have heard it is a pretty big event. If you enjoy crowds this might be a good place to go. And if you miss it you will have to wait 12 years.
take care
-rad

by Radhanatha Jakupko at 2006-02-04 02:15:08 UTC (ed. Mar 12 2008 ) Pondycherry , India | Bookmark | | Report spam→

So why did you leave……….?

by [former member] | 04 Feb 2006 04:02 | New Delhi, India | | Report spam→

When does it take place? Thanks for the info

by Ahikam Seri | 04 Feb 2006 11:02 | Jerusalem, Israel | | Report spam→

hello everyone, bit of info if anyone heading to see Saint Gomateshwar,

This is a nice little place to chill for a few days, the statue is pretty cool with pretty impressive views over the plains, i’ve seen snaps of the event and it looks great, a must if your in the area, about 4 hrs on the bus from mysore. You can also stay in the pilgrims guest complex, about 60 rup’s for your own little flat, cheap but make sure you got something to sleep with, its pretty basic, think i payed 5 rup’s for a matress but take sheets / lungi or something otherwise its the floor, which i ended up cleaning due to find that a dog had left me a nice present, when in got my room. they will try and make you go to the only local hotel which is a lot more money and just as basic, i also had to ask for permission to stay from the pilgrims office, if i remember right.

The other thing is when you visit the temple you have to leave your shoes and walk the steps, or you could get carried, but in hot sun and heat the steps get roasting, take a few pairs of socks!!!

Well if anyones off there have a great time, im very jealous, safe travels rich.

by Richard Greaves | 04 Feb 2006 14:02 | Midlands, United Kingdom | | Report spam→

Sorry I forgot the dates. Feb 8th to 18th. Going on right now.

Findlay- I was heading to delhi and had booked before I found out about the dates. I thought it was already over. I read that it was going to be in Nov/Dec of 05. I am considering going back down for the tail end of it.

In response to Richard’s statement "This is a nice little place to chill for a few days"
It will not be so. They are expecting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. It is a small town and it will be crammed. I was told that finding decent rooms is also going to be hard at this late hour. But they have built temporary pilgrim "slums" just outside of town. they are just huts and such. But the overwhelming activity should be quite interesting.
-rad

by Radhanatha Jakupko | 08 Feb 2006 23:02 | Near Delhi, India | | Report spam→