2018 Mahamastakabhisheka: German techniques for safe scaffolding

Scaffolding has been an integral part of any Mahamastakabhisheka Mahatosav of Bahubali since the first head anointing in 981 AD took place at Shravanabelagola. Previously, scaffolding for the statue was done by tying wooden logs but with the advancement of technology, the Mahotsav-2018 has  made use of the latest German techniques of scaffolding around the enclosure of the Bahubali statue atop Vindhyagiri Hill.

The scaffolding is a couple of feet higher than the statue of Bahubali, so as to enable devotees to pour sacred water over the head of Bahubali during the rituals. Public works Department officials who have constructed the scaffolding and seating platform,  designed it to withstand 500 kgs per sq metre weight. The structure has come up in 2,600 sq metre and around 5,500 people can sit and witness the head anointing ceremony at one time, says Nagaraj, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Hassan.

Construction of the scaffolding began on September 8 last year with German technology used in the country for the first time for such a purpose, says Mr Nagaraj. The PWD has spent Rs 11.25 crore on the scaffolding and the platform of seats.

The scaffolding material is of high quality and tests have been conducted on them and the  platform of seats  to ensure they are safe enough. Earlier, scaffolding was done  using wooden logs with the time taken for building them stretching over a year.

Though the head anointing ceremony is mainly conducted from February 17 to 25 the Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt has made arrangements for devotees to head anoint the statue till August to help devotees have relatively free access as there are heavy crowds  during February.

After February, the head anointment of the statue will be held every Sundays by the Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt and the rituals will be the same as that of the main Mahamastakabhisheka. After completion of the head anointing ceremony in August, the agency will dismantle the scaffolding.

A member of the Jain community, Anand Basal, a civil engineer by profession, who visited Shravanabelagola, said he was satisfied with the scaffolding and considers it safe for the devotees. Material used for scaffolding is by far of the best quality when compared with the scaffolding material used during previous ceremonies, according to him.