Jain festivals occur on designated days of the
year. Jain festivals are either related to life events of Tirthankara or they
are performed with intention of purification of soul.
Festivals
There are many religious festivals in Jainism. Some
of them are associated with five auspicious life events of Tirthankara known as
Panch Kalyanaka. Jains celebrate many annual festivals. Many of the
major festivals in Jainism fall in and around the chaomasa (Sanskrit:
chaturmasa).
Paryushana
Parva
It is one of the most important festival for Jains.
Paryusana is formed by two words meaning 'a year' and 'a coming back'. This
festival comes in the months of Shravana and Bhadrapat. It is also known as Das
Lakshana Parva. It is a festival of repentance and forgiveness. Many Jains
fast and carry out different religious activities. This festival is believed to
remove accumulated karma of the previous year and develop control over new
accumulating new karma, by following Jain austerities and other rituals.
Discourses of Kalpa Sutra are given by monks which describes life of
Mahavira and other Tirthankaras. Kshamavani is generally observed to ask
for forgiveness from everybody for any acts during the previous year which may
have hurt them.
Janma
kalayana
This festival marks the birth of lord Mahavira.
Procession is carried out and lectures on the message of Mahavira are
presented. The idols of Mahavira are ceremonially bathed and rocked in a
cradle.
Ashtanhika
Parv
This is a Jain festival celebrated for eight days
three times a year in the months of Kartika, Phalgun and Ashada. It is
celebrated from eighth day of Shukla Paksha (Waxing moon Cycle) till Poornima/Guru
Poornima every year.
Nandeeshwar
Ashtanhika
The Nandeeshwar island is surrounded three mountain ranges called the Anjana mountain, the Dadhimukha mountain, and the Ratikara mountain. Jains Perform Special Pooja, SiddhChakra Vidhan, Nandeeshwar Vidhan and Mandal Vidhan.
The word Ashta meaning eight and Anhika
meaning every day. When the festival falls in the months of Ashada and Phalgun,
then the ritual is known as Nandeeshwar Ashtahnika. This ritual helps to gain
greater spiritual insight, and wisdom. The observance of this ritual brings
wish fulfilment for the devotees.