August Fairs Festivals : Paryushan
PARYUSHAN :
Jains Remember Their Tirthankara
Once again in the month of August, Jains celebrate the birth of the 24th tirthankara
Mahavir, during Paryushan, an eight-day festival. The birth record of this great
teacher of Jainism is read by scholars and mums, and attentive listeners welcome
the event by throwing sacred kumkum and rice on the alter. Paryushan ends on
the day of Ganesh Chaturthi and Jains seek forgiveness for all the wrong doings
of the preceding year by speaking the words Michhami Dukkadam to each other.
In recent years, Jains have largely adopted the custom of sending samvatsari
cards to family and friends to ask for forgiveness. It is at once a gesture of
penitence and acceptance.
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