A Monk for a day!

Prakash Chand Lodha is a flourishing businessman who has been living in the city for decades now. Accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort as he is, one would be surprised as to why he and hundreds other affluent Jains from the city would want to spend their Sunday dressed as sadhus, begging for alms.

“The life of a businessman is marred with constant worry... their children’s future or the fate of their business. Sadhus, on the other hand, experience no such thing; they have broken all ties with the world and live in a constant peace,” explains Prakash, president of Sri Vardhman Sthanakwasi Jain Sravak Sangh, Greater Hyderabad.

To help experience this peace, the body is organising an event wherein Jain businessmen will become monks for one day. “And this means no cellphones or BMWs or any social engagements. The intention is also to encourage the present generation to see the meaning in our traditions,” says the 63-year-old businessman, who deals in automobile finance.

The participants will leave their homes and gather at Shri Poonamchand Gandhi Jain Sthanak, opposite Kacheguda Railway Station early on Sunday morning. Despite the heat, they will use no fans or ACs or any channels of communications with their family back home. The day will be spent in prayers and meditation; their mouths will be covered with white clothes to avoid any harm to airborne insects.

The gathering will be of only men, in the age groups of five to 80 years. They will finish late in the night. “As per tradition, Jain sadhus do not touch women and vice versa, so tomorrow it will be only for men,” says Prakash.

“I was 28 years old when I first took part in such an event; it took place at Kacheguda in 2010. It was an unbelievable experience and for someone my age, I was being introduced to whole new world that generally doesn’t interest the younger crowd,” says Prashanth Kocheta, secretary of Sri Vardhaman Jain Yuva Sanghatan. “As a jeweller, I live in this busy humdrum and to imagine a day without it is quite a marvel,” says the 33-year-old.

And it’s this marvel that drives jeweller Vikram Kimtee and his friend Arun Mokha to attend such events all over the country even though the participants have to go door-to-door for food, something many of us wouldn't look forward to. “The life of a sadhu is not easy at all and after this experience, you become so humble and at peace with yourself,” says Vikram, 41, who has been inspired by his father Rajendra Kumar Kimtee to take part in such activities. "The gathering is on a Sunday so it's easier for people to come. There will be people from Hyderabad and Secunderabad participating,” he says.

While the Jains prepare to spend a Sunday in this rather unusual way, their families are supportive and more than happy, especially to see the young following the elders and returning to their roots.