Paryushana Parva is the most important festival of which community?

Paryushana Parva is the most important annual festival of the Jain community. It is a period of fasting, prayer, self-reflection and forgiveness, held in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), during the rainy season.

The word "Paryushana" means "abiding" or "coming together", and it refers to the tradition of monks staying in one place during the monsoon. During this time, Jain monks and nuns remain in one place, and the lay community gathers around them to listen to their teachings. The festival is a time for Jains to purify the soul by reflecting on their actions, controlling their desires and following the principles of Jainism more strictly.

The two main sects of Jainism observe Paryushana differently. The Shvetambara Jains observe it for eight days. The Digambara Jains observe it for ten days, and they call it Das Lakshana Parva, the festival of the ten virtues, such as forgiveness, humility, honesty, purity, truth, self-restraint, penance, renunciation, non-possession and celibacy.

During Paryushana, Jains fast according to their capacity, some for the whole period, some on alternate days, and some by eating only once a day. They read and listen to the Kalpa Sutra, which describes the lives of the Tirthankaras, especially Mahavira. The festival ends with Samvatsari, the day of forgiveness. On this day, Jains perform the pratikramana (a ritual of repentance) and ask forgiveness from everyone they may have hurt, knowingly or unknowingly, saying "Michhami Dukkadam" ("may all my wrong deeds be forgiven").

Why not the other options?

• ✗Buddhists celebrate festivals such as Buddha Purnima and Losar.
• ✗Sikhs celebrate festivals such as Gurpurab and Baisakhi.
• ✗Parsis celebrate festivals such as Navroz and Khordad Sal.