JAIN FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The Jain Religion has a pre-historic relation with Varanasi. There are many mentions of Varanasi in ancient Jain scriptures. Four of the Tirthankars out of twenty-four were born in Varanasi which are Suparshvanath ( th!" #han$raprabh (%th!" Shreyansnath (&&th! an$ 'arshvanath (()r$!. There are two sects of Jain in Varanasi vi*. Digambara an$ Shwetambara. There are two sub-sects of +igambaras Terapanth (they $o not offer foo$" flowers an$ nor perform Jalabhishek! an$ Beesapanth (they perform the actions state$ above!. ,ut both the sects celebrate the festivals together. The Shwetambaras have three sub-sects Terapanthi (ascetics wear a large mas- over mouth!" Sthanakavasi (wear small mas- over mouth! an$ Murtipujaka (worshiper of i$ol!. The former two $oes not worship i$ols. There are some festivals which both the sects celebrate while some are celebrate$ separately with $ifference of $ates. Paryushana or Dashalakshana and Tatkalavarti Festivals: This is the most significant festival of Jains. The $evotees -eep away from worl$ly $uties an$ observe Atmachintan (self-contemplation!" Dna (.lms!" Tapa (me$itation!" Swdhyya (stu$y of scriptures! an$ Puj (worship!. Paryushana means Paritaha Samantta Ushyante Dahyante Karmani Yasmina Tat Paryushanam /burning the fastenings of the $ee$s0$uties is 'aryushana. The wor$ Dashalakshana has a significant role in +igambara tra$ition because they follow ttama !shama (better forgiving!" Mrdava (sympathy!" Arjava (sincerity!" Satya (truth!" Shaucha (ablution!" Sa#yam (abstinence!" Tyga (sacrifice!" Aki#chanya (small 1uantity! an$ Brahmacharya (celibacy! on this occasion. This festival is observe$ for ten $ays from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami t$ Bhadrapada Shukla %haturdashi (2th-&3th of wa4ing fortnight in .ugSep!. Fast is observe$ on these $ays. This festival occurs on two more occasions in a year but is celebrate$ only in Bhadrapada&

Kshamavani: This festival is observe$ on Ashwina !rishna Pratipada (&st of waning fortnight in .ug-Sep!. 5t is celebrate$ with pomp. 5n the evening" after the worship" all the Jains apologi*e to each other an$ forsa-e all the bitterness while placing their hea$s in others feet. There is no $ifference of el$ers youngers here. . group feast is also organi*e$. Ashtnhik (Olee : This is the secon$ most important spiritual festival of Jains. This festival is observe$ for eight $ays an$ occurs three times a year. This is specially celebrate$ in Ashadha (Jun-Jul! from %th-&2th of wa4ing fortnight. Special worship" recitation an$ fast are observe$ on this $ay. . 'aj#a (oblation! of eight $ays is organi*e$ an$ a (avana (fire sacrifice! is performe$ on the ninth $ay. .fter it group $ining is performe$. Shruta!an"hami or #yan Pan"hami: This is the $ay of worshiping Saraswati& The -nowle$ge passe$ vocally was scribe$ on this $ay in 2 ..+. The boo- hol$ing Saraswati is worshipe$ on this $ay. Akshaya Tritiya: This is the festival of the eminent praise of penance an$ alms. 6hen the first tirthankara Rishabha$eva was wan$ering for foo$ after his penance no one was able to un$erstan$ that what shoul$ be given to him as he was silent. 7ing Shreyansa 7umar un$erstoo$ this fact after si4 months an$ presente$ him foo$ himself. Thus this festival remin$s us of both penance an$ alms. $aksha%andhan: There is a story behin$ this festival. 8nce the courtesan of -ing 9aresh 'a$maray surroun$e$ 2:: Jain ascetics an$ set them to fire. The brother of the -ing" Vishnu 7umar then too- form of )amana an$ as-e$ for three foot lan$ an$ measure$ the entire earth in two steps an$ thir$ step was on the bac- of the bestowing -ing ,ali an$ save$ the Jain ascetics.

Dee!a&ali: Tirthankara Mahaveera attaine$ salvation on the very $ay. 6orship is observe$ in temples in early morning. The temples an$ houses are $ecorate$ with lamps in night. ,esi$e these festivals" the birth$ays of the Tirthankaras are also celebrate$. $e'eren"e: (ain Pro') Sudarshan *al+ Fairs and Festivals o' ,aranasi+ (-na Pravaha+ .//0+ .120/)