Fifth Mahamastakabhisheka of the century began At Venur.

Mangalore/Venur.Jan-28-This Jain pilgrimage centre on the foothills of Western Ghats, on the banks of Phalguni river, wore festive look on Saturday as the fifth Mahamastakabhisheka of the century began.

The nine-day anointment (Mahamastakabhisheka celebrations) of the 35-foot monolith Venoor Bhagwan Shri Bahubali Swamy celebrations in Venur began on a colourful note on Saturday. Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the celebrations.

Mahamastakabhisheka is held once in every 12 years in a grand manner. Streets leading up to Akkangala Basadi, which is behind the statue of Bahubali, were decorated.

The rituals leading up to Mahamastakabhisheka began with a procession led by a decorated elephant. The procession went in circumambulation around the site of Bahubali’s statue.

Several women dressed in identical saris walked behind the elephant in two lines holding kalashas. The kalashas contained water that would be used in the Mahamastakabhisheka rituals.

Head of the Ajila princely family, Padmaprasad Ajila, poured the first kalasha of water, followed by his family members. A total of 108 kalashas of water were poured on the first day, besides many other items, including sandalwood paste and milk. The devotees poured water over the statue of Bahubali from a specially constructed platform and paid obeisance. A large number of devotees watched the proceedings.

In the  nine days, Devotees take part in the Mastakabhisheka by pouring various substances made out of sandalwood, turmeric, sugarcane juice, honey, rice powder, choorna made out of herbs and tender coconut.
Altogether 1,008 kalashas will be emptied on the forehead of the Bahubali statue.