A 13-year-old girl, who belonged to the Jain community, died here on October 3 after undertaking a fast for 68 days as part of a community ritual.
The incident was brought to light on Saturday by child rights NGO, Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (APBHS), which sought an enquiry into the incident.
Aradhana Samdaria had undertaken the fast as per the 'Santhara' ritual during the period of 'Chaumasa'.
According to APBHS president Anuradha Rao, Aradhana, a Class VIII student of St Francis School in Secunderabad, was admitted to a local hospital two days after she completed her 68-day fast, where she died of a cardiac arrest. Hundreds of community members attended her funeral, 'shobha yatra', eulogising her as 'bala tapasvi' as she completed a penance even elders could not dream of.
Aradhana, who belongs to a family of jewellers, was the daughter of Laxmichand and Manisha Samdaria.
According to sources at the Jain temple, which is adjacent to the Samdaria residence, Aradhana had earlier also undertaken similar fasts ranging from 12 days to 41 days as the family believed her 'tapasya' brought luck and prosperity.
"They murdered their daughter out of greed for gifts and fame. Otherwise, how can one explain her absence from school for so long... she was paraded at the Jain temple like a goddess, even as every organ in her body was failing," a member of the community said.
"Santhara is a ritual for those who are old and dying. People fast during Chaumasa to undo the wrongs done in their lifetime. What wrong did Aradhana do to undertake such fasting? At least the senior members of the community should have warned her parents," Latha Jain, a community leader, said. "When I met her parents to offer condolence, they said their child wanted to become a saint and was adamant that she would continue her fasting," she added.
However, Aradhana's grandparents Manikchand and Pushpa Devi Samdaria told the media that nothing was done in secrecy.
"Aradhana was fasting at the temple premises. Everyone came and took selfies. Now, a section of the community is blaming us," Manikchand said. But, pictures released by the NGOclearly showed that Aradhana, dressed in full bridal attire, was extremely weak and had to be carried around by devotees.
![]( "Aradhana Samdaria")
A 13-year-old girl, who belonged to the Jain community, died here on October 3 after undertaking a fast for 68 days as part of a community ritual.
The incident was brought to light on Saturday by child rights NGO, Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (APBHS), which sought an enquiry into the incident.
Aradhana Samdaria had undertaken the fast as per the 'Santhara’ ritual during the period of 'Chaumasa’.
According to APBHS president Anuradha Rao, Aradhana, a Class VIII student of St Francis School in Secunderabad, was admitted to a local hospital two days after she completed her 68-day fast, where she died of a cardiac arrest. Hundreds of community members attended her funeral, 'shobha yatra’, eulogising her as 'bala tapasvi’ as she completed a penance even elders could not dream of.
Aradhana, who belongs to a family of jewellers, was the daughter of Laxmichand and Manisha Samdaria.
According to sources at the Jain temple, which is adjacent to the Samdaria residence, Aradhana had earlier also undertaken similar fasts ranging from 12 days to 41 days as the family believed her 'tapasya’ brought luck and prosperity.
"They murdered their daughter out of greed for gifts and fame. Otherwise, how can one explain her absence from school for so long... she was paraded at the Jain temple like a goddess, even as every organ in her body was failing,” a member of the community said.
"Santhara is a ritual for those who are old and dying. People fast during Chaumasa to undo the wrongs done in their lifetime. What wrong did Aradhana do to undertake such fasting? At least the senior members of the community should have warned her parents,” Latha Jain, a community leader, said. "When I met her parents to offer condolence, they said their child wanted to become a saint and was adamant that she would continue her fasting,” she added.
However, Aradhana’s grandparents Manikchand and Pushpa Devi Samdaria told the media that nothing was done in secrecy.
"Aradhana was fasting at the temple premises. Everyone came and took selfies. Now, a section of the community is blaming us,” Manikchand said. But, pictures released by the NGO clearly showed that Aradhana, dressed in full bridal attire, was extremely weak and had to be carried around by devotees.
The incident was brought to light on Saturday by child rights NGO, Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (APBHS), which sought an enquiry into the incident.
Aradhana Samdaria had undertaken the fast as per the 'Santhara' ritual during the period of 'Chaumasa'.
According to APBHS president Anuradha Rao, Aradhana, a Class VIII student of St Francis School in Secunderabad, was admitted to a local hospital two days after she completed her 68-day fast, where she died of a cardiac arrest. Hundreds of community members attended her funeral, 'shobha yatra', eulogising her as 'bala tapasvi' as she completed a penance even elders could not dream of.
Aradhana, who belongs to a family of jewellers, was the daughter of Laxmichand and Manisha Samdaria.
According to sources at the Jain temple, which is adjacent to the Samdaria residence, Aradhana had earlier also undertaken similar fasts ranging from 12 days to 41 days as the family believed her 'tapasya' brought luck and prosperity.
"They murdered their daughter out of greed for gifts and fame. Otherwise, how can one explain her absence from school for so long... she was paraded at the Jain temple like a goddess, even as every organ in her body was failing," a member of the community said.
"Santhara is a ritual for those who are old and dying. People fast during Chaumasa to undo the wrongs done in their lifetime. What wrong did Aradhana do to undertake such fasting? At least the senior members of the community should have warned her parents," Latha Jain, a community leader, said. "When I met her parents to offer condolence, they said their child wanted to become a saint and was adamant that she would continue her fasting," she added.
However, Aradhana's grandparents Manikchand and Pushpa Devi Samdaria told the media that nothing was done in secrecy.
"Aradhana was fasting at the temple premises. Everyone came and took selfies. Now, a section of the community is blaming us," Manikchand said. But, pictures released by the NGOclearly showed that Aradhana, dressed in full bridal attire, was extremely weak and had to be carried around by devotees.
A 13-year-old girl, who belonged to the Jain community, died here on October 3 after undertaking a fast for 68 days as part of a community ritual. The incident was brought to light on Saturday by child rights NGO, Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (APBHS), which sought an enquiry into the incident.
Aradhana Samdaria had undertaken the fast as per the 'Santhara’ ritual during the period of 'Chaumasa’.
According to APBHS president Anuradha Rao, Aradhana, a Class VIII student of St Francis School in Secunderabad, was admitted to a local hospital two days after she completed her 68-day fast, where she died of a cardiac arrest. Hundreds of community members attended her funeral, 'shobha yatra’, eulogising her as 'bala tapasvi’ as she completed a penance even elders could not dream of.
Aradhana, who belongs to a family of jewellers, was the daughter of Laxmichand and Manisha Samdaria.
According to sources at the Jain temple, which is adjacent to the Samdaria residence, Aradhana had earlier also undertaken similar fasts ranging from 12 days to 41 days as the family believed her 'tapasya’ brought luck and prosperity.
"They murdered their daughter out of greed for gifts and fame. Otherwise, how can one explain her absence from school for so long... she was paraded at the Jain temple like a goddess, even as every organ in her body was failing,” a member of the community said.
"Santhara is a ritual for those who are old and dying. People fast during Chaumasa to undo the wrongs done in their lifetime. What wrong did Aradhana do to undertake such fasting? At least the senior members of the community should have warned her parents,” Latha Jain, a community leader, said. "When I met her parents to offer condolence, they said their child wanted to become a saint and was adamant that she would continue her fasting,” she added.
However, Aradhana’s grandparents Manikchand and Pushpa Devi Samdaria told the media that nothing was done in secrecy.
"Aradhana was fasting at the temple premises. Everyone came and took selfies. Now, a section of the community is blaming us,” Manikchand said. But, pictures released by the NGO clearly showed that Aradhana, dressed in full bridal attire, was extremely weak and had to be carried around by devotees.