An Indian billionaire and his wife in Gujarat have decided to follow in the footsteps of their children who have renounced material wealth to pursue spirituality. Before embarking on this path, they donated assets worth up to 20 billion Indian rupees ($24 million) and gave away all their belongings such as phones, household appliances, and jewelry.
According to reports from News18, the billionaire named Bhavesh Bhai Bhandari accumulated wealth through construction and business ventures, but he and his wife chose to forgo material comforts in favor of a simple life as ascetics.
Inspired by their daughter and son who renounced worldly possessions in 2022 at the ages of 19 and 16 respectively, the couple decided to embrace a similar way of life.
Bhandari and his wife participated in a four-kilometer-long procession in February, where they dressed in traditional attire and threw out their possessions like phones and clothing from a chariot to the public. A total of 35 people joined them in this ritual, giving up their lifelong savings amounting to 20 billion Indian rupees.
The couple is set to formally renounce the material world and sever ties with family and friends on April 22nd. They will have to walk barefoot, rely on alms from others, and depend on the goodwill of people for sustenance.
According to the tenets of their faith, after renouncing their wealth, they will only be allowed to possess two white robes, a begging bowl, and a white broom for cleanliness. When monks go out seeking alms, they may have to sit or lie on the ground. The broom is used to gently sweep away insects from their path to avoid unintentionally harming them.
Bhandari is not the first Indian billionaire to renounce wealth in pursuit of spiritual fulfillment. In 2015, known as the plastic king of India, Bhawarlal Doshi also held a grand renunciation ceremony where he distributed silver coins to thousands before renouncing his material possessions.
According to NDTV, in 2017, another wealthy couple in Madhya Pradesh, Sumit Rathore and his wife, also renounced their wealth after donating assets worth 1 billion Indian rupees ($12 million).
These stories reflect a growing trend among affluent individuals in India who choose to prioritize spiritual pursuits over material wealth and luxury. Such acts of renunciation highlight a deep-seated commitment to spiritual values and detachment from worldly possessions.
责任编辑：李明