BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said he will push for global cultural centre status for famous Digambar Jain pilgrimage site of Mangi Tungi near here in north Maharashtra.

Shah said he will seek cooperation from the Maharashtra government and Centre for recognition of Mangi Tungi as an international cultural centre.

He was speaking at a programme organised as part of religious events underway to consecrate the 108-ft tall idol of Lord Rishabhdeva, the first Jain Teerthankar, atop Mangi Tungi hills.

The idol, carved out of a single rock, is 108 feet tall and 184 sq feet in size, and is said to be the world's tallest Jain idol.

Shah arrived at Mangi Tungi by a helicopter from Aurangabad this afternoon and was received by state BJP president Raosaheb Danve and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, among others.

The main 'Mahamastabhisheka' (a grand Jain event) will be organised from February 18 to March 6. In the run-up to the main event, another ceremony ('garbha kalyanak') was held where Jain devotees from all over India took part.

The giant idol will be opened for public after its ongoing installation and the main ceremony, Jain saint Ravindrakirti Swami said.

Shah, Danve and Mahajan were felicitated by prominent Jain community leaders at the function.