In an unusual development, a 22-year-old girl from Hyderabad has decided to take up Jain ‘sanyasa deeksha.’

During the first day’s ritual of the ‘sanyasa deeksha’, the girl, Suman Kumari, was taken in a procession on an elephant at the historical Jain pilgrimage centre at Kolanupaka in Alair mandal in Nalgonda district.

For the last time in her life she donned a fine dress on Wednesday and as part of the rituals, Ms Kumari was taken in a procession accompanied by several elderly people. As a symbol of renunciation and distraction towards materialistic life, she kept aside all her valuables such as gold, money and other articles on the roadside and was seen smiling throughout the procession that took a few hours to run its course.

As it was the first ‘sanyasa deeksha’ in recent times at the famous Jain pilgrimage centre for Svetambar Jains in South India, many Jains from nearby places, particularly from Hyderabad, arrived in large numbers to watch the rituals and take part in it.

Jain monks led by Jayantsen Suri Maharaj Guru were present at the shrine on the occasion at Rajendra Suri Guru Mandir, where the rituals are being performed.

Ms. Suman Kumari is learnt to have completed her Intermediate. The dress worn by her during the procession would be auctioned later, said a person at the function.

On the second day’s ritual on Thursday, the girl’s hair would be plucked by some religious elders and she would be presented white clothes which she has to wear for the rest of her life. Since then, she would lead her life in Jain temples as a sanyasin and religious elders would also give her a new name.