Jain Group urges minors to not undertake the strict fasting after 68-day-long fast kills 13-year old

Days after a 13-year-old girl from Hyderabad died after fasting for 68 days, a Jain community from Hyderabad has issued instructions urged minors to not undertake the strict fast during the Jain holy period of Chaumasa.

According to a report in Indian Express, one of the biggest Jain organisations in Telangana asked parents to not force or ask minors to fast where all they can apparently have was boiled water.

The report added that a formal announcement is likely to be made on 11 October by Guru Bhagwan Ravindramuniji at the Kacheguda Sthanak.

The deceased girl, Aradhana died of a cardiac arrest just two days after she finished her 68 days fast.

About 600 people attended her funeral and hailed her as a 'bal tapasvi'.

Lata Jain, a member of the community said that it has been a practice for people to undertake severe penance when they give up even food and water. They are glorified, lauded and honoured at community meetings by the religious elders. They are also showered with gifts. But in this case it was a minor and that she was against it. She also said that this is suicide if not murder.

The class VIII student gave up school so she could fast. People known to the family said that the girl had earlier undertaken a fast of 41 days and survived.