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History & Doctrinal aspects of lainism: 13 the devotee chants mantras, hymns almost silently and makes certain actions, like using fly whisk to serve the divinity, using lamp and incense sticks or a small metal fire pot and moving in vertical circular form before the idol (called ārti), bowing etc. Śvetämbar subsects Sthānakavāsī and Terapanthi Jains, on the other hand, either visit their monks /nuns, sing hymns in Sthanaka or at common meeting places called aṇuvrata bhavans or sädhana kendras. There are special group periodical pūjās held on holy days as per Jain calendar. It is interesting to note that more than 20000 Jain temples exist in India alone for a small population of about 5 million Jains.
2. Periodic:
These consist of observing fasts on special occasions, visiting monks to serve them, special pūjās on festive days, festivals and pilgrimage to holy places. The idea of such activities is to leave behind the daily worldly activities and be immersed in religious pursuits for a specific period. All these activities occupy very special place in the life of Jains as can be seen in their temples, meetings with ascetics and observing festivals and large number of pilgrimage places. For example on 8th sand 14th day of each fortnight, Jains even avoid eating the green vegetables and fruits. They usually go to a pilgrim place at least once or twice a year. Similarly Jain ascetics who do not have any worldly possessions rely solely on the householders to provide them food, shelter, implements to observe restraint etc and access to religious texts etc. Some of the peculiarities of Jain festivals and pilgrimage are: spiritual purification, preaching right conduct and experience own nature and detachment.
2.1 Festivals :
Festivals also provide an opportunity for the community to know each other, build community feelings, take up community projects and understand each other better. Important Jain festivals are: Paryuṣaṇa./ Dasa Lakṣaṇa is the most important (often called as mahāparva) of all Jains. These occur in the Indian month of Bhadra (August-September) and considered most auspicious and celebrated with vigor and activities; Birthday of Lord Mahāvīra and his
