Shops run by Jain community to remain closed in Dimapur

Our Reporter

Dimapur, Jan. 5 (EMN): Business establishments run by the Jain community in Dimapur will remain closed today (Jan.6) from 6 am to 6 pm as a mark of protest against the declaration of their sacred worship site — Shri Sammed Shikharji, Parasnath Hill located in Giridih district, Jharkhand — as a tourist spot and opening for commercial exploitation by Ministry of Forest and Environment & Climate Change, Government Of India.

The move to make Sammed Shikharji into a tourist spot was stated to be the request of the government of Jharkhand in 2019. Jain communities across the globe are said to be protesting against the move of the government.

The Shree Digamber Jain Samaj Dimapur have requested all the Jains to assemble at Mahavir Bhawan, near Jain temple, Marwari Patti at 9 am on Friday as a mark of protest against the “insensitive declaration which damages the sanctity of their pilgrimage site since time immemorial”.

“Millions of Jain saints have attained their salvation from this sacred hill. Every particle of this hill is worshipped and lakhs of Jains climb it barefooted, many without eating or drinking anything during the 27-km walk. So also, anybody having any non-vegetarian food or alcoholic drinks or unholy celebrations on the sacred hill after having declared it as a tourist spot is an unpardonable sin,” it stated.