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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: August 25: The Jains of the city celebrated the birth of their revered God, Maruswami or Mahavir today. The Jain temples at Vashi were buzzing with people who gathered in huge numbers to attend the ‘pravachan’ here. The Jains are celebrating the 8-day long festival, ‘Paryushan’.

Paras Kantilal, a Sector-28, Vashi resident who had come to the temple to observe ‘Pratikraman’ says, “This is one of our biggest festivals that arrives once in a year. It’s an 8-day long event where we are expected to do rigorous fasting. The fast starts at 10:30am when we are supposed to have boiled water. We can have this water throughout the day till 6 pm but having food is not allowed.”

It’s not imperative for a Jain to observe this fast everyday. One can do so as per their individual capabilities. Ankit Baphna, Sector-29, Vashi resident informs, “This festival started last Monday and will culminate this Monday which is considered to be a grand day. We observe a fast on that day and ask people for "shama yachna" or forgiveness.”

The festival teaches the community members to have patience and stay clam. Jai Prakash H Vyas, Administrative Office- Jain Temple says, “This festival gives a message to stay calm and pure and not to indulge in any violence whatsoever. Today almost thousand devotees came to the temple to offer prayers here.

Swati Pandey