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Kartik Poornima - The full moon day of Kartik The Chaturmas that begins on Ashadh Chaturdashi comes to an end on the full moon day in Kartik. After this the Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis begin their wandering Padyatra i.e. travel on foot. A pilgrimage to Shatrunjay-Palitana on this day is considered to be of great importance. Thousands of Jains go on pilgrimages on this day. This day also is celebrated as the birth day of Kalikalasarvajna, Acharya Bhagavant Hemachandrasooriji who was born on this day. (in Vikram Samvat 1134 or 1078 A.D.).
Maun Ekadashi (The holy day for observing silence) Maun Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in the month of Margshirsh. This is an important day for Jains on which they observe total silence - and carry out such austerities as Paushadh vrat, fasting, worshipping of gods, meditation, etc. This is the day on which the great events relating to the one hundred and fifty Jineswares are celebrated by means of holy recitation. The story of Suvrat Shresthi is connected with this day.
Paush dashami This day is famous as the birthday of Bhagwan Parshwanath. On the 10th day of Pushya, hundreds and thousands of Jain men and women perform the tapasya of 3 Upavas-atham (continuous fasting for 3 days) and by means of recitation and meditation they try to attain spiritual welfare. A grand fair takes place in Sankheswar which is sacred place for Jains. Thousands of people gather here and perform the austerity of Atham.
Akshay Tritiya Those noble people who perform the austerity of Varsitap complete the austerity on this day by taking sugar-cane juice in the cool shadow of Shatrunjay. Bhagwan Rishabdev performed the Parana (completion of an austerity) on this day after fasting for one year continuously. This day is considered to be very auspicious for going on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay. This falls on the 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Vaishakh.
