Jain community members from all over India are holding protests in many cities against the Hemant Soren government’s decision to declare Sammed Shikharji as a tourist spot.
Sammed Shikharji, located at Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand, is a sacred pilgrimage site for the Jains. After the notification was issued to make Sammed Shikharji located in Giridih, Jharkhand, a tourist destination, the people of the Jain community took to the streets. Describing Sammed Shikharji as their holy pilgrimage site, people of Jain society are protesting, demanding to save and preserve it. There was a massive protest by the Jain community on Sunday at India Gate, New Delhi.
Sammed Shikharji Controversy
Sammed Shikharji Controversy started because the Jharkhand government notified the pilgrimage site as a tourist destination. The Jain community wants Sammed Shikharji to be a pilgrimage site, but the Jharkhand government has declared it a tourist destination. Before, Shikaharji temple was a pilgrim’s destination.
The Jain community does not want Sammed Shikharji as a tourist place because once it is declared as a tourist place, there will be the sale of meat and liquor, illegal cutting of trees, and illegal mining of stones. People of all Jain communities have written a demand letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which 5-point demands were written.
Here is all you need to know about Sammed Shikharji Controversy:
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to PM Modi and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren urging him to reconsider the decision.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad has issued a statement against the state government’s decision and said the VHP is determined to protect the sanctity of all pilgrimage sites in India.
Jain monk Acharya Saubhagya Sagar Maharaj, who is conducting the crowd in Etawah, said that Shankar Bhagwan of Chaubisi, the place of salvation of infinite saints, has also come to Sammed peak located in Jharkhand.
The area should be declared a holy area and there should not be any tourist activity involving meat and drugs.
Sammed Shikharji Location
Teerthraj Shikharji is located on Parasnath Hills and is accessible from Madhuban, District Giridih, State of Jharkhand. You can not reach the temple from any vehicle. If you want to reach the Sammed Shikharji temple, you must pass through the Madhuban Forest.
How to Reach Sammed Shikharji Jain Temple
Parasnath Station is the nearest Railway Station to reach this Temple. It is located in Dumri Jharkhand, almost 25 km away from Madhuban. Parasnath station is well connected by train from Delhi and Kolkata. The nearest Major Airports are Ranchi, Patna and Kolkata. You can also reach Shikharji temple by road. Road conditions are good and there is good connectivity by public transport.
Sammed Shikharji Yatra
Shikharji Yatra has to be completed in a day since there are no facilities to stay overnight on the Hill. The Yatra takes about 12 hrs for a normal healthy person to cover 27 km. However, it can take up to 16 hrs for the elderly. Before starting the Yatra, most Yatris pay homage to BhomyaJi and pray for a safe and successful Yatra. The best time to do Shikharji Yatra is in the wintertime because you have to walk around 27 km in the hills area. During the summer, the temperature is high, and it’s difficult to walk for 27km.
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