In a shocking incident, a 13-year-old girl from Hyderabad died last week after 68 days fasting during the Jain holy period called Chaumasa.

According to a NDTV report, "the girl, Aradhana, was admitted to a hospital just two days after she finished her 68 days fast, where she died of cardiac arrest. About 600 people attended her funeral and hailed her as a 'bal tapasvi'."

“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 is my objection. This is suicide if not murder,” a member of the community, Lata Jain, was quoted as saying.

So that she could fast, the class 8 student was allowed to give up school. People known to the family said that "the girl had earlier undertaken a fast of 41 days and survived."

Aradhana's grandfather, Manekchand Samdhariya, said, “We did not hide anything. Everyone knew Aradhana was fasting. They came and took selfies with her.”

BY M. DIVYA SRI

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