Doshi’s decision wasn’t an impulsive one: Jain lectures have been drawing him to spirituality since 1982. But his family – his wife, two sons, and a daughter – were always reluctant to let him go. They finally relented last year, allowing Doshi to fulfil his long-time dream of becoming a monk. His initiation into monkhood took place in an extravagant ceremony at Ahmedabad Education Society, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
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| Photo source : Oddity Central |
The one million square-foot venue was specially decorated for the event, with a ‘samyam jahaz’ (ship of restraint) theme. 20,000 bamboo sticks were used to build the stage; 3,000 workers and 200 security guards were hired for the event.
A whopping 150,000 people attended; 7,000 of them arrived from out of town, and 500 hotel rooms were booked to accommodate them. Doshi himself entered the venue dressed in glamorous clothing, but shed his grand attire for simple cotton clothes during the ceremony.
Doshi’s initiation was followed by a seven-kilometre procession, consisting of 1000 monks, 12 chariots, nine elephants, nine camel carts, and musicians. Several prominent personalities attended the event, including top Indian industrialist Gautam Adnani. A total of 100 crore rupees (nearly $16 million) was spent on the occasion. Money, gold coins and car keys were thrown into the crowd during the procession.
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| Photo Source: Oddity Central |
Doshi, who is originally from Rajasthan, refused to join his father’s textile business in the 1970s. Instead, he borrowed 30,000 rupees from his father to start his own plastic trading business in Delhi. .. See more
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