Mysore/Mysuru: MP Pratap Simha said that Jain Samaj is an informed society that comes up with full support whenever Nationalism issues come to the fore.

He was speaking at the valedictory of the two-day Jina Bhajan Contest organised by Bharatiya Jain Milan-Zone 8 at Kalamandira here on Sunday.

Maintaining that the Jain Samaj is a significant population in Mysuru, Simha said that the series of educational institutions run by the Samaj at Dharmasthala are iconic in nature.

Actor Srimurali, who was a guest on the occasion, called upon the participants to seize this opportunity for showcasing their talent. Asking them to make best use of this opportunity, he opined that it is rare to find such an opportunity beckoning.

Actress Prema, in her address, said she was delighted to see such an overwhelming response for the Bhajan event, with  a good number of Mandalis  from across the State taking part.

Srimurali and Prema sang songs from a couple of Kannada hits, which thrilled the audience.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of the contest. They are:

Belagavi’s Dhaarani Mahila Bhajana Mandali – First prize (Rs. 35,000); Hubballi’s ‘Divyadhwani’ Mandali – 2nd (Rs. 25,000) and Bengaluru’s ‘Swarabhisheka’ Mandali – 3rd (Rs. 15,000).

Also, all the 17 Bhajana Mandalis selected for ‘Jinanugraha’ prize got Rs. 5,000 each and the rest Rs. 3,000 each.

A total of 40 Mandalis comprising more than 300 participants in total from Mysuru, Mangaluru, Dharwad, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Bengaluru and Davanagere Zones took part in the event.

Bharatiya Jain Milan Working President Surendra Kumar Heggade of Dharmasthala, Anita Surendra Kumar, Bharatiya Jain Milan Zone-8 President Pushparaj Jain, Secretary M. Rajesh, Supriya Harshendra Kumar, Shradha, Anand Pandit, Sheela Anantharaj and others were present on the occasion.