He devoted his life to his inner faith at the expense of a million dollar fortune in diamonds. This is the unusual choice of Devanshi Sanghvi, an eight year old Indian girl.
Until this week, she was the heir to the jewelry company Sanghvi and Sons in the city of Surat (Gujarat, West), known locally as the “Diamond City” for its importance in the world trade in diamonds and precious stones.
But Devanshi Sanghvi decided during a four-day ceremony to give up the pleasures of the world – and her fortune – to become a nun in a strict religious order of the Jain faith.
On Wednesday, she arrived at a temple to swap her elaborate attire for a simple white cotton outfit after shaving her head.
According to local media, her parents said she was looking forward to becoming a nun.
His family belongs to the Jain faith, a 6th century B.C. A religion founded in India preaching non-violence, asceticism, strict vegetarianism and love for all creatures.
According to a witness to the ceremony, who was interviewed by AFP on condition of anonymity, Devanshi Sanghvi was known to members of the Jain community in Surat for his piety.
“Devanshi has never watched TV, never been to the cinema, or to shopping malls and restaurants,” he pointed out.
Jainism has over four million adherents in India, many of whom come from wealthy merchant communities.
This religion has been criticized for some of its ritual practices, particularly a tradition of extreme fasting. A 13-year-old girl died in central Hyderabad in 2016 during a two-month penitential fast during which she was only allowed to drink hot water twice a day.
Her death sparked outrage and her family was accused of forcing her to fast. His parents were charged by the police with manslaughter.