Jainism - festivals and celebrations
Dates for your 2007 calendar
April
3 Mahavira Jayanti
This day celebrates Lord Mahavira’s birthday. Lord Mahavira was the 24th and last tirthankara (or teacher) of the Jain faith.
April/May
Akshaya-tiritiya (Immortal Third)
This celebrates the 1st time alms were given to Jina Rishabha. Alms means money or help which is given at a time of need. Jina Rishabha was the first tirthankara (or teacher) of the current cosmic cycle.
May/June
Shruta-pancami/Guru-pancami (Teachers Fifth)
This day is to remember when the Jain holy books were written down. Shvetambras call this day jnana-pancami, and celebrate it in October and November.
September
11 Paryushana Jainism
The start of an 8 day festival of fasting (which means not eating), and careful thinking about Jain teachings. It is also a time for rituals of devotion.
18 Samvatsari Jainism
A day when Jains ask for forgiveness from all, those they have harmed physically or emotionally. They also forgive people who have harmed them. This is also the start of Dasa Laxani parva, when Jains spend 10 days thinking about the human soul.
November
12-13 Vira-Nirvana
This happens at the same time as the Indian festival of Diwali. Vira-Nirvana is a day to remember the 2533rd anniversary of Lord Mahavira’s death.
December
This marks the end of the rainy season retreat for monks and nuns. It is also the end of the Jain religious year.
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