Santhara Tradition

Thousands of people lined up in Bikaner today for the funeral procession of 82-year-old Badani Devi.

Badani Devi's weakness is self-induced, the result of her undertaking Santhara, the ancient Jain tradition of fasting unto death.

For now, a tradition of Jains that sees themselves starving to death has been permitted by the Supreme Court.

A tradition of Jains starving themselves to death is an essential part of religious freedom, a petition in the Supreme Court has said today, as thousands of Jains are protesting the ancient ritual of "Santhara" being declared illegal.

Thousands of people lined up in Bikaner today for the funeral procession of 82-year-old Badani Devi.

Badani Devi's weakness is self-induced, the result of her undertaking Santhara, the ancient Jain tradition of fasting unto death.

For now, a tradition of Jains that sees themselves starving to death has been permitted by the Supreme Court.

A tradition of Jains starving themselves to death is an essential part of religious freedom, a petition in the Supreme Court has said today, as thousands of Jains are protesting the ancient ritual of "Santhara" being declared illegal.