One of Jainism’s most significant festivals, Parvadhiraj Paryushan, commenced on Wednesday with widespread observance across Ahmedabad.
According to Bhadresh Shah of Jain Yuvak Mahasangh, this year over 260 Jain congregations in the city are hosting the festival in the presence of prominent religious leaders, including Tapagacchadhipati Acharya Munoharkirtisagarji, Gacchadhipati Acharya Hemchandrasuriji, and Gacchadhipati Acharya Naradevsagarsuriji. They are joined by nearly 55 Jain Acharyas and more than 1,500 monks and nuns.
Devotees across the city are undertaking rigorous austerities, such as Atthai Tap (8-day fast), Solbhath (16-day fast), Masakshaman (month-long fast), and Siddhitap, as part of the festival’s spiritual practices.
On August 24, the reading of Lord Mahavir Swami’s birth will be held, while on the 27th, Samvatsari will be observed.
This eight-day festival, which nourishes virtue (poshan) and diminishes sins (shoshan), is observed with strict adherence to non-violence.
During these eight days, Jain temples of the city will be adorned for the Lord, while discourses, paushadh (renunciation practices), and other spiritual activities will be organised in upashrayas (monastic community halls).
Large numbers of Jains will perform pratikraman (ritual introspection) in the mornings and evenings. The festival of nurturing virtue and purifying the soul is an age-old tradition of Jain Dharma.
In the first three days of Paryushan, discourses are given on the text Ashtalika.
From the fourth day onwards, the reading of the Kalpasutra begins. Of the eight days of Paryushan, seven are dedicated to worship, and the eighth day is the day of attainment (siddhi)—when the Samvatsari Pratikraman is performed.