Jain woman dies after fasting for 61 days

JAIPUR: One more elderly woman died here on Monday night after fasting for the last 61 days under a Jain ritual of self-denial, a member of the community said on Tuesday.

93-year-old Kaiela Devi, a resident of Johari Bazaar here, had undertaken 'Santhara', the Jain ritual, and breathed her last in the presence of family members, Vimal Chand Daga said.

This was the fifth case of Santhara in Rajasthan. Earlier Bavrulal Beerwal (84) of Chittorgarh, Vimla Devi (60) of Jaipur, Dhanni Devi (85) of Bikaner and Amarchand Kaswan (77) of Ajmer have died after having observed Santhra in the last one-and-a-half months.

Jain community leaders have termed deaths and births as religious events and claimed the fasting ritual of Santhara was a means to attain salvation. They were also of the view that the ritual should not be treated as suicide.