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| View of Madhuban Shikharjee |
Jharkhand Spirit, Deepak Mishra : Even as half of September has passed, Madhuban Shikharjee continues to be drenched by incessant rainfall. The continuous downpour is not only troubling the thousands of pilgrims who come here with faith and devotion but also affecting the daily lives and livelihoods of local residents.
Madhuban,
located at the foothills of Parasnath Hill in Jharkhand, holds immense
spiritual significance for followers of Jain Dharma. It is believed to be the
place where 20 out of 24 revered Tirthankaras attained salvation (moksha).
Because of this, the town attracts thousands of Jain devotees from across the
country and abroad every year, especially for the sacred hill yatra and other
religious rituals.
However,
this year has been exceptionally challenging. Locals say that the rains have
been relentless since 16 May, and even now, in mid-September, there is no sign
of respite. The unceasing showers have made it difficult for pilgrims to
undertake the arduous hill yatra and perform other spiritual practices.
The
prolonged rain has also had a severe economic impact. Local shopkeepers, food
stall owners, dharmshala employees, doliwalas (palanquin bearers), and
daily-wage laborers are all facing hardships. With fewer pilgrims arriving and
those who do coming for shorter durations, business activities have dropped
sharply. “Our income has reduced drastically this season because the footfall
of pilgrims is very low,” says one shopkeeper, reflecting the collective
concern of the local business community.
The
residents and devotees alike are now hoping for clear skies so that normalcy
and spiritual vibrancy can return to Madhuban Shikharjee soon.
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