In connection with Mahamastakabhisheka (Head Anointing of Gommateshwara ( Bhagavan Babuhali), All India Radio stations of Karnatalka will give variety of programmes belongs to Jainism. This programme will be broadcast from 02nd December 2017 to 20th February 2018.These programmes consists devotional music,thoughts (chinthana),sacred places,book reading ,stories ,interviews, features,etc. relates to Jain heritage. This also includes phone in quiz programme and state level youth quiz programme. From 8th February 2018 to 20th February 2018,Akakshavi gives special programmes 'Today at Shravana Belagola',
Finally, On 17/02/2018, Live running commentary of Mahamastakabhisheka will be broadcast in Kannada, Hindi and English. These all programmes will be broadcast in stake hook from all 13 stations of Karanataka from 02/12/2017 to 20/02/2018. These all programmes are the contribution of Bangalore,Bhadravathi,Mysore,Hassan,Mangalore and Dhrawad stations.
The Mahamastakabhisheka (lgrand consecration) is an important Jain festival held once in every 12 years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India is an integral part of the ancient and composite Jain tradition. The ceremony in 2018 will be the 88th in the series that commenced in the year 981 A.D.The festival is held in veneration of a 17.3736 metres (57.000 ft) high statue of the Siddha Bahubali. The anointing last took place in 2006, and the next ceremony is going to take place in 2018.The event is being be held under the leadership of His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of Shravanabelagola from 17th-25th February 2018.
As the Mahamastakabhisheka begins, consecrated water is sprinkled onto the participants by devotees carrying 1,008 specially prepared vessels. The statue is then bathed and anointed with libations such as milk, sugarcane juice, and saffron paste, and sprinkled with powders of sandalwood, turmeric, and vermilion. Offerings are made of petals, gold and silver coins, and precious stones. Most recently, the ceremony's finale has included an enormous shower of flowers from a waiting helicopter.
Contributed by :- Shri. Pankaj D K, AIR Madikeri.