Woman takes Deeksha 8 years after daughter

A mother followed her daughter on Wednesday eight years after the latter took Deeksha, or consecration for a Jain practice which involves a severe lifestyle shorn of materialistic considerations.

While people tend to say, 'like mother, like daughter', Indira Rathore (68) turned the saying around after she took Deeksha following in the footsteps of her daughter.

An elaborate four-day programme was organised by the family, with a huge crowd participating in a send-off ceremony in Kurla held on Wednesday morning. Pradeep Rathore (45), one of Indira's two sons, said: "After the demise of our father three years ago, we wanted to ensure that our mother is happy. It (taking Deeksha) is completely her decision."

Jain International Organisation director Virendra Shah said, "Deeksha means one person leaving all his/her possessions, living life like a saint and maintaining a distance from other men and women. The person also lives without electricity and walks barefoot (among other things)."