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DASHA-PARYUSHAN PARVA TOGETHER, WE'RE THE ONES !
FORUM
The Jain festivals, known as Parvas, more importantly the birth days of the Tirthankaras and Dasha-Paryushan, are all observed on the dates established according to Vir Samvatsar ( V.S.), the Jain calendar that constituted with the Nirvan of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara, 2512 years ago this past October.
Jain communities of Canada and USA, established and grown a decade and a half ago, observe and celebrate all important Parvas. Birth festivities of the Tirthankaras are usually observed on the weekends close to the days observed in India. The variation in dates to observe the Parvas, in north America, is due to the vicissitudes of social and geographic limitations that the Jains have been catapulted into.
As Jain settlers are recent to arrive on the continent, the social limitation is varied and many. The geographical vastness of the chosen land has put limit on the density of the Jain demography which is highly educated and professional in nature with a high ratio. Thus it has conduced the concentration of the Jains in industrialised urban centres of north America.
The variations in dates of the observance of Dash-Paryushan Parva, in India, by Jains follow groups. Some observe during Shravan vada baras to Bhadra shud choth; some do from Shravan vada teras to Bhadra shud panchami and others celebrate from Bhadra shud panchami to Bhadra shud chadas. The Jaina communities of north America, at large, have followed the variations of Indian observances and have utterly failed to adopt necessary steps to replant the roots of the Jain heritage in the new land.
The Jain community of north Carolina, a southern state in America, has taken a first step in advancing the unity of the Jains as one by deciding to celebrate Dasha-Paryuhsan Parva on the dates different from India's observance, to the similar adoptions of celebrating Tirthankara birth days.
North Carolina Jain community celebrated Dasha-Paryushan from sept 10 to Sunday 18,1988 during the two weekends. On the 1st weekend, we began Dash-Paryushan along with two virtues followed next day by Mahavir's conception and dreams ceremonies. The next six virtues, one on each day, were celebrated. On the Saturday of the second weekend, samvatsari Pratikraman Kshamapan plus the last two virtues were observed. Recognition of Tapasvis and Parana were conducted on Sunday, 18 September.
The reasons for change from India's observance dates are:
1 The youth, children and working adult will have a solid provision to participate fully in all 3 significantly important days in the weekend
2 - Kshamapan (samvatsari) on Saturday provides an ideal circumstance for all to observe Samvatsari pratikraman together and to seek kshamapan individually
3- The final day of Dash-Paryushan Parva on Sunday will provide an opportunity for congregational recognition of the tapasvis and the Parana
Jain Education International 2010_02 For Privcontinues adrepage 10
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