MUMBAI: More than 50,000 Jains congregated at BKC on Sunday morning to witness history. A Jain monk broke his 423 day long fast today. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the function amongst other dignitaries.

Shri Hansratnavijayji Maharaj Saheb, created history on Sunday after completing a 423 Upvas (Fast without Food) in a period of 494 days. A feat achieved after 2500 years, according to Jain gurus.

Jain Sadhu has undertaken the penance of ‘Gunaratna SamvatsarTap’, which is to undertake 407 fasts in 480 days. But he extended it to 494 days & will complete 423 fasts in place of 407 fasts.

He had also established another record. He completed 108 fasts in the year 2013 and 180 fasts in 2014, which was a record in itself. This is a highest Tapascharya in Jainism.

In all, he has completed 1722 days of fasts in last 14 years. The Jain fast does not permit eating of any type of food and only boiled water can be consumed during the day time(8.00 AM to 6.30 PM).

The Parna-Mahotsav (breaking of fast) was celebrated today amidst Jain groups from all over the country , Around 1,000 buses were arranged for transportation of people from different places, in and around Mumbai.