Patna: An important meeting was convened on Monday at the Tourism Department in the Main Secretariat, Patna, to discuss the comprehensive tourism development of Pawapuri, the sacred site of Lord Mahavira’s nirvana, located in Nalanda. Chaired by Abhay Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Tourism Department, the meeting included prominent representatives from the Shwetambar and Digambar Jain communities.
During the meeting, the Tourism Secretary emphasized Pawapuri’s significance as a revered pilgrimage destination for Jains both nationally and internationally. As the site where Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, attained nirvana, Pawapuri attracts devotees from across India and around the world. The Secretary highlighted the need for enhanced tourist facilities around the Pawapuri Jal Mandir, including the thorough cleaning of the Jal Mandir Sarovar of water hyacinth and other waste. Additionally, he stressed the importance of improving amenities such as toilets, drinking water, street lighting, and parking facilities.
Following discussions, the Tourism Secretary directed Nandkishore, Managing Director of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, to dispatch a team to assess the feasibility of constructing these facilities, including a cafeteria. He also assured the Jain community representatives that the department would support efforts to clean the Jalmandir Sarovar, potentially utilizing assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to convert water hyacinth into fertilizer for farmers.
In response to requests from Jain community representatives, the Secretary wrote to the Road Construction Department, advocating for the designation of Pawapuri as a non-violent and sacred area. He also proposed organizing a light and sound show at Pawapuri Sarovar, constructing a tourist gate at the Pawapuri turn, widening the path to Jalmandir, making it free of encroachments, and enhancing tourist safety and guide availability.
The meeting was attended by Tourism Director Vinay Kumar Rai, Rajesh Jain, Trustee, Jain Shwetambar Bhandar Tirth Pavapuri, Parag Jain, Honorary Secretary, Bihar State Digambar Jain Tirth Committee, Arun Kumar Jain, Manager, Digambar Jain Kothi, Pavapuri, Suraj Navalakha, Trustee Representative, Naya Mandir, Pavapuri, and other officials from the Tourism Department.
