After protests, India bans tourist to holy Jain sites
Indian authorities have banned all tourism to an important site of pilgrimage for the Jain community.
Sammed Shikharji can be found in an environmentally sensitive region atop the highest mountain of Jharkhand state.
The government asked the state for a ban on activities that “defile” the site, such as alcohol consumption and eating non-vegetarian foods.
The Jain community, a religious minority that includes approximately 4.5 million believers, is called the Jain community.
Under the spiritual guidance and leadership of monks, devout Jains adhere to the tenets that make up their religion. These include detailed instructions for daily living, including what to eat, when to eat, and what not to eat.
The community is worried that tourism to Jharkhand’s holy pilgrimage site will cause damage to the area’s sacredness.
For several weeks, members have protested against the state’s plan to make the site a tourist destination.
Following a proposal by the state government, the environment ministry approved tourism activities at Parasnath Hill in 2019.
Thursday will be it sent a letter To the state government, stating that the location was important not only for the community but for the whole nation.
It requested that the state immediately cease all “tourism and Eco-tourism” activities at this site and enforce all rules applicable in eco-sensitive areas.
This includes prohibiting “loud music”, the sale and consumption intoxicants, defiling places of religious or cultural significance” as well as activities that harm the environment.
Bhupendra Yadav, Environment Minister, tweeted that the federal government is committed to “preserving & protecting the rights of Jain community over all religious sites including Sammed Shikhar”.