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Diwali Diwali is celebrated on the new-moon day of Kartik. On this night, Mahavirswami attained Nirvan or deliverance and attained to a state of absolute bliss. The lord discarded the body and the bondage of all Karmas on that night at Pavapuri, and attained Mukti or deliverance. Chaturdasi (the fourteenth day of the bleak fortnight of Kartik), the full-moon day and the new year the first day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in Kartik - These three days are celebrated with Paushadh, fasting, special repetion of holy hymns and neditation. People should fast on the Chaturdasi (14th day) and the new-moon day and listen to the Uttaradhyayan Sutra which contains the final message of Lord Mahavir. The whole of the night of Diwali should be spent in the recitation of holy hymns and in meditation on Shraman Bhagwan Mahavir. In the early morning of the first day of the new year, Ganadhar Gautam Swami the first disciple of Lord Mahavir attained absolute enlightenment. The Jains begin the new year with a glorification of Lord Gautam Swami, and listen with devotion to the nine Stotras holy hymns and with listening to the auspicious Rasa (epical poem) of Gautam Swami from their Guru Maharaj.
Bhai Beej - The festival day for brothers: When Raja Nandivardhan, the brother of Shraman Bhagwan Mahavir was steeped in sorrow and anguish on account of the later's nirvan (attainment of Mukti) his sister, Sudarshana took him to her house and comforted him. This happened on the second day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in Kartik. This day is observed as Bhai Beej. This festival is like Raksha Bandhan. On this day of Rakshabandhan, the sister goes to brother and ties the Raksha but on this day, the sister invites her brother to her house to felcitate him.
Jnan Panchami (The holy day for acquiring knowledge) Jnan Panchami is the name given to the celebration that takes place on the 5th day of the fortnight of te waxing moon in Kartik (the 5th day after Diwali). This day has been fixed for the worship of pure knowledge and on this day by way of worshipping knowledge, fasting, taking Paushadh, devavandan (offering to knowledges), holy recitation, meditation, Pratikraman, etc are carried out. Moreover the books preserved in the religiuos libraries are cleansed and worshipped.
Ashadh Chaturdasi The sacred commencement of Chaturmas takes place on the 14th day of the fortnight of the waxing moon, inj the month of Ashad. The Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis remain where they to be on that day until the 14th day Kartik Shukla They have to stay there. During these four months among Jains many austerities like renunciation, tapasya, undertaking of religious ceremonies, etc are orgainsed. Even in respect of eating and drinking during these days, some rules have been prescribed.
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