Jain austerities — observances and vrat guides
Jain austerities include distinct disciplines of restraint, reflection and repentance. Ayambil is not simply another name for Upvas, and Ekasana specifies a form of eating rather than an annual festival. Paryushana, Samvatsari and the Navpad Oli periods place those practices within different religious settings. Sect and community guidance affect both the calendar and the permitted meal. This collection preserves those distinctions and connects each observance to its individual description. The aim is to help readers find the relevant discipline without substituting a generic Hindu fasting menu for Jain rules.
The catalog currently includes 20 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Navpad Oli; Paryushana Parva; Paryushana Upvas; Samvatsari; Das Lakshana Parva. Their recorded devotional focus includes Navpad — the 9 Supreme Elements; Lord Mahavira. Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 20 observances in this collection
- Navpad Oli — March 25, 2026
9 consecutive days of Ayambil (one bland, tasteless meal) — worship of the Navpad, the 9 supreme elements of Jain philosophy
- Paryushana Parva — September 8, 2026
The most sacred Jain festival — 8 days (Shvetambara: Sep 8–15, 2026 · VNS 2552) of repentance, renewal, and the cultivation of forgiveness, ending on Samvatsari
- Paryushana Upvas — September 8, 2026
The supreme Jain austerity — a complete 8-day fast during Paryushana, sustained on boiled water only. One of the most spiritually meritorious observances in the Jain tradition.
- Samvatsari — September 15, 2026
The holiest single day in the Jain calendar — the final day of Paryushana (Sep 15, 2026 · VNS 2552) and the supreme day of universal forgiveness. The Shvetambara equivalent of Yom Kippur.
- Das Lakshana Parva — September 16, 2026
The Digambara Jain equivalent of Paryushana — 10 days (Sep 16–25, 2026 · VNS 2552) of fasting, meditation, and contemplation of the 10 supreme characteristics of the soul
- Navpad Oli — October 17, 2026
Autumn session of Navpad Oli — 9 consecutive days of Ayambil and worship of the Navpad, the 9 supreme elements of Jain philosophy
- Pakshik Chauwdas — January 2, 2026
Pakshik Chauwdas — the 14th tithi of each Shukla and Krishna paksha. A core monthly Jain Samvat fasting day across both Shvetambara and Digambara sects, observed ~25 times a year, paired with evening Pakshik Pratikraman.
- Ayambil (Navpad Oli) — March 25, 2026
The supreme Jain austerity (Ekavikruti Tyag) — one completely plain and tasteless meal per day with zero taste enhancers. Practised especially during Navpad Oli and Paryushana, and on auspicious days throughout the year.
- Ekasana — January 2, 2026
The gateway Jain austerity — one complete meal before sunset, observed on any auspicious day. Not eating after sunset (Ratri Bhojana) is a core Jain practice every single day, not only on fast days.
- Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas — March 21, 2027
Phalguna Shukla Chaturdashi — the 14th tithi before Phalguna Purnima, marking the end of the winter Chaumasi quarter, observed with Upvas and universal Pratikraman (VNS 2553)
- Kartik Chaumasi Chaudas — November 23, 2026
The Chaturdashi of Kartik month — Jain monks conclude their Chaturmas (4-month monsoon stay) on this day. Lay Jains observe Upvas and perform Chaumasi Pratikraman (VNS 2553/2554)
- Holika Dahan — March 3, 2026
Holika Dahan — the sacred bonfire lit on the night of Phalguna Purnima, commemorating the burning of Holika and the divine protection of the child-devotee Prahlad. Families gather at dusk, circumambulate the fire, and offer coconut, roasted grains, and til — burning away the year's negativity before the colours of Holi the next morning
- Holi — Rangwali Holi — March 4, 2026
Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) — the festival of colours, played on the morning after Holika Dahan. Celebrating the eternal love of Radha and Krishna and the arrival of spring, it is a day of gulal, music, forgiveness, and renewed bonds — not a fasting day, but a day of festive satvik feasting
- Kali Chaudas / Hanuman Puja — November 7, 2026
Kali Chaudas is the Nishita-night worship of Goddess Kali and Lord Hanuman, observed with protective prayers, lamps, and Hanuman Puja.
- Phoolon wali Holi — February 27, 2026
Phoolon wali Holi (Holi with flowers) is the Pushti Marg tradition of celebrating Holi on Falgun Purnima with fragrant flowers rather than synthetic colours. Shrinathji's svarupa is showered with roses, marigolds, and spring blossoms. Devotees gather at the haveli to sing Holi songs, play with flowers, and share thandai and prasad — re-enacting the Braj Holi of Krishna's time
- Holi Dahan & Dol Utsav (Phalgun Purnima — Pushti Marg) — March 3, 2026
Holi Dahan & Dol Utsav — the Pushti Marg observance of Phalgun Purnima (Holika Dahan) and the following Phalgun Krishna Pratipada (Dol Utsav / Dhulendi), distinct from the Phoolon wali Holi (which is the haveli's flower-only Holi a few days earlier). The Holika Dahan is preceded by Phag-rasa kirtan, and the Dol Utsav drenches the haveli courtyard in gulal, abir, kesar, and flower-petals while the Ashtachhap Phag-rasa padas are sung continuously.
- Holi · Phalguna Purnima (Ramanandi) — March 4, 2026
Holi — the spring colour-festival on Phalguna Purnima eve (Holika Dahan) and Chaitra Krishna Pratipada morning (Holi proper / Dhulendi). At Ayodhya, the Ramanandi mandirs hold the most joyful Sita-Ram-Holi of the year — flower-petals, abeer, and gulal showered on the Ram darbar, with continuous Siyaram-naam-sankirtan and Holi-bhajans through the day.
- Bishnoi Holi (Phalgun Purnima) — March 3, 2026
Bishnoi Holi (Phalgun Purnima) — the spring color festival observed by Bishnois with strict environmental discipline. No green wood is cut for Holika dahan (niyam #16), no chemical colors are used (they harm birds and the environment that the 29 niyams protect), and only phool gulal made from palash, marigold, and rose petals is played with. A quiet, ecological Holi that has been practiced unchanged since the 15th century.
- Holika Dahan Yajna — March 3, 2026
Holika Dahan Yajna — the Arya Samaj observance of Phalguna Purnima as a Vedic yajna of cleansing, using only dry wood, ghee and havan-samagri. The next-day Holi is observed as a quiet, satvik festival with phool-gulal only, no alcohol or bhang.
- Dola Purnima (swing festival of Madanmohan / Holi) — March 3, 2026
Dola Purnima — Phalguna Purnima — the great spring swing festival of Madanmohan and Sri Radha at Puri. The Odia precursor to Holi, focused on the temple Dola Yatra procession.