Paryushana Festival

The ‘Paryushan Parva’ celebrated annually for self-purification and uplift is meant to adhere to the ten universal virtues in practical life; and leads us on the right path, far from the mad strife for material prosperity, which ultimately leads us to our true destination i.e., salvation.
It is a festival of repentance and forgiveness. 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. There are regular rituals and discourses at the Jain temples. Kalpa Sutra describes the life of Mahavira and the other Tirthankaras. On the third day, a procession of Kalpa Sutra is carried out. On the fifth day, the auspicious dreams of Trishala, mother of Mahavira are demonstrated and soon after that the birth of Mahavira is celebrated. The tenth day of festival is called Ananth Chaurdsashi and is the day when Lord Vasupujya attained moksha (nirvana). Kshamavani is observed a day after Ananth Chaturdashi, on this day Jains ask for forgiveness from everybody for any sinful behaviour during the previous year.