Ahmedabad (Gujarat), October 28, 2012: This is a city which made Mughal king Akhbar ban animal slaughter. A powerful and influential Jain community showed the world in its exquisite stone filigreed temples and mosque architecture how it was possible to blend different cultures into one form without disturbing one’s individuality.
This aspect is to be highlighted by Jain Heritage Gaurav Yatra Walk being launched by the Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) and the City Heritage Center (CHC) on Sunday. For the first time, this walk will take visitors to the yet unexplored 33 Jain sites in the walled city.
The two-hour walk, spanning a little below two kilometers, will become routine affair every Saturday and Sunday.
Both JITO and CHC have employed professional guides who will take visitors to the unexplored corners of the walled city that depict a thriving Jain culture.
Almost 31 sites are temples as old as 250 to 200 years will be showcased, with some even being underground.
The walk will begin from CHC in Sankhdi Sheri and will cover important Jain temples including Vasupujya temple and end at Shamla Parshavnath temple in Lambeshwar ni Pol.
Pravesh Mehta, general secretary with JITO, said, “The walk is a unique effort to acquaint citizens with a thriving Jain culture in the walled city. It’s an essential part of our city’s history. The focus is to arouse the new generation’s interest in the rare temple architecture in the walled city.”
Said CHC coordinator Rajiv Patel, “Exploring the Jain culture is essential in understanding the core culture of the walled city. This walk is aimed at helping the new generation learn about the past stories and the historic temples that dot the walled city.”
Among those who will attend the launch of the walk at the JITO convention at the university exhibition area are leading industrialist Gautam Adani, Gautam Jain, Narendra Baldota, Motilal Oswal, Rakesh Mehta, Utkarsh Shah, Ganpatlal Chowdhary, Shantilal Kawar and Prakash Sanghvi. – News Courtesy: Times of India