Nagpur: A wave of spiritual devotion and cultural vibrancy swept through the city on Tuesday as devotees marked the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir with a series of shobhayatras, prayers and community gatherings across localities.From early morning, Jain temples and community spaces witnessed a steady footfall as devotees participated in rituals, abhishek, prayers amidst chanting of Navkar Mantra. Colourful shobha yatras were the highlight of the day with shobhayatras taken out from different parts of the city. In West Nagpur, a large shobhayatra began from the Sumatinath Jain Temple, drawing participation from hundreds of devotees. Decorated chariots carrying idols, thematic tableaux depicting the teachings of Lord Mahavir, musical bands and traditional performances moved through key roads including Ramdaspeth, Panchsheel Square and Dhantoli before concluding at a community venue.Simultaneously, in Itwari, another procession commenced from Ajitnath Jain Temple around 7am, with nearly 500 devotees from nearby areas joining in. Devotional songs, and ‘stavan’ added to the festive atmosphere as chants of jai-ghosh echoed along the routes. Residents welcomed the processions with offerings and ‘prabhavana’, underlining the community connect.At the Swadhyay Bhavan, women’s mandals led a collective chanting of the Navkar Mantra following ceremonial lamp lighting, with Bhavna Manavat and Shraddha Surana among those coordinating the segment. The session drew participation from several community members and set a devotional tone for the day.Children presented a theatrical depiction of the 14 auspicious dreams associated with the birth of Lord Mahavir, while winners of the ‘Rangotsav’ competition were felicitated. A Swamivatsalya community meal was organised, where around 850 devotees gathered. Conveners Sawan Bhatewara and Ankush Bora, along with other committee members, managed the overall coordination, while Neetu Kataria anchored the proceedings.
