________________
JAINA FESTIVALS AND FASTS.
No light may be brought into the meeting, even if it goes on till eight or nine o'clock at night.
At the close of the three hours the lay people salute the gurus. Then they greet each other and ask forgiveness for any injuries or slights inflicted during the past year, and many old quarrels are actually made up at this time. If any one carries on a quarrel beyond Samvatsari and dies, he is in a parlous state. Going home they greet their nonJaina friends and make up quarrels with them too, and they also at this season write letters to distant friends and put every thing right with them.
109
The Jaina are specially zealous during Pajjusana to prevent any animal life being taken. In many States, such as, for instance, Limbadi, Jamnagar and Morvi (in Kathiawad, they have prevailed on the respective Chiefs to prohibit all shooting, fishing or slaughter of animals during these eight days. In other States they try to prevent it for at least the first five days and the last by paying all the S'ikari to remain idle.
Punema.
Four full moon days during the year are observed as special fasts by the Jaina. These days are called Punema (yan) or Purnima (y). The one that occurs about November is called Karttiki Punema (sifa yan); the next, about March, Phagani Punema (şın yar); Caitri Punema (ya) falls about April; and in June or July is Asahi Punema (2411 ya). Both Svetambara and Digambara Jaina decorate their temples with lamps on these days, and more of them than usual go to the temples to worship.
