<h1 class="ql-align-center">Samvatsari</h1> <h2>﻿Context:</h2> <ul><li>The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the occasion of Samvatsari.</li></ul> <h2>About:</h2> <ul><li>It is a festival celebrated by the Jain community, especially by the Shwetambara sect.</li></ul> <ul><li>It is the last day of an eight-day observance of prayers called Paryushana Parva or Paryushana</li></ul> <ul><li>It falls on Shukla Panchami each year in the Jain calendar month of Bhadrapada (somewhere between the middle of August and September in the Gregorian calendar)</li></ul> <ul><li>Samvatsari is also known as the Day of Forgiveness. After the Paryushana, Jains seek forgiveness from all the creatures of the world, including friends and relatives by uttering the phrase —&nbsp;Micchami Dukkadam&nbsp;or its variants like “Khamau Sa”, “Uttam Kshama” or “Khamat Khamna”.</li></ul> <h2>Paryushan and Das Lakshan practices:</h2> <ul><li>Paryushan is the most important holy festival of Jains observed every year in the month of August or September. It is basically observed in the Bhadrapad month's Shukla Paksha.</li></ul> <ul><li>During this festival, Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help.</li></ul> <ul><li>Normally,&nbsp;Digambaras&nbsp;refer to it as&nbsp;Das Lakshana Dharma&nbsp;while&nbsp;Svetambaras&nbsp;refer to it as&nbsp;Paryushana</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Paryushan: An annual 8-10 days period of fasting and meditation for Jain worshippers observed by Shwetamabar Jains</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Das Lakshan: A 10-day festival that takes place after Paryushana and is observed by Digambar Jains</li></ul> <ul><li>They are marked by strict observance of the ten cardinal virtues:</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Forgiveness, Charity, Simplicity, Contentment, Truthfulness, Self-restraint, Fasting, Detachment, Humility, and Continence</li></ul> <ul><li>The festival ends with the celebration of Samvatsari or&nbsp;Kshamavani&nbsp;(forgiveness day).</li></ul>