Paryushan 2023: Significance & rituals of Jain festival

Paryushan is one of the significant festivals of Jain community which will be celebrated from September 12 to September 20, this year. The community consider this time as very auspicious and appropriate for spiritual growth, with fasting, meditation, and purification rituals.

The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness by Digambar and Shwetambar in Jain community. During Paryushan, devotees attend speeches, practice non-violence, and seek forgiveness for their sins. The festival concludes with Samvatsari, a joyful gathering.

Paryushan Parv Day 4 pic.twitter.com/R4VWc34tXo

— ||Ojas Sawla(Jain)||🇮🇳 (@SawlaOjas) September 15, 2023

As fasting purifies the mind and body, devotees follow satvik lifestyle and try to have a control over their senses by observing 9 days fast.

Know about the daily routine which should be followed during Paryushan 2023

• Jain people get involved in daily meditation and prayers and attend daily ‘vyakhyans’ delivered by nuns or monks.
• Eating meals before sunset and drinking only boiled water is considered during this period. According to rituals, it is also advised to eat satvik food and avoid green vegetables.
• People also follow the path of non-violence and peace.
• Devotees practice Pratikraman which is also considered as the main ritual while seeking forgiveness for their sins which they might have committed consciously or unconsciously in their daily life.
• The festival is concluded with Samvatsari where people gather and celebrate with each other.

Joining the ongoing celebrations of Paryushan Mahaparva 2023, Salim Merchant, renowned music composer and singer (of Salim – Sulaiman fame), offered a heartfelt rendition of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s composition ‘Amulya Tattva Vichar: Bahu Punya Kera Punjthi’ at the Lotus Feet of… pic.twitter.com/KQD6MWr69d

— Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (@SRMDharampur) September 16, 2023

Important Dates for Paryushan 2023

• 12 September:  The body composition of the Lord
• 13 September: Potha ji’s Varghoda will be taken out
• 14 September: Kalpasutra Pravachan
• 15 September: Birthday reading festival of Mahavira Swami
• 16 September: The program of Prabhu’s school work
• 17 September: Kalpasutra reading
• 18 September: Programs like Barsa Sutra Darshan, discourse Chaitya tradition, Samvatsari Pratikraman takes place
• 19 September: Collective forgiveness takes place for the entire year’s sins.
• 20 September: Day Celebration, this festival will end on this day.