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with fourteen flowers. On the final day people seek and grant forgiveness. The festival concludes with a dinner.
Divali is a most important Jain festival, common to most Indian (especially north Indian) communities that falls in October or November. It marks the anniversary of the liberation of Mahavira and the attainment of omniscience by his chief disciple, Gautama Indrabhuti. Jains celebrate the Divali as a festival for five days: dhan teras, kaali chaudas, Divali, New Year and bhai beej, both as holy days and as a community festival. Traditionally, the festival commences with the worship of the goddess Laxmi on dhan teras. The next day is kaali chaudas when the recitation of Mahavira's last sermon, the Uttaraadhyayana Sutra, takes place, for it was then that Mahavira commenced his last sermon which was to last until he attained liberation, late into the night of Divali. Some Jains meditate in secluded places on this day in order to acquire superhuman accomplishments. It is also popular to worship the wish-fulfilling deity Gantakarna Mahavira on this day. (He is not, of course, to be confused with tirthankara Mahavira).
Then comes the day of Divali, when Mahavira ended his worldly life and attained moksa. Lights are lit as a symbolic representation of knowledge to be retained. Some devout Jains fast on the day preceding Divali and on Divali itself, as did Mahavira. Some perform ritualistic pujaas and worship the goddess of learning, Sarasvati. The next day is the first day of the New Year, the day of the enlightenment of Gautama when people listen to nine holy sutras (nava smaranas), and the epic poem Gautama Raasa. The fifth day of the festival is bhai beej. when sisters invite brothers to their homes, commemorating the invitation by Sudarshana to her brother Nandivardhana to comfort him for the loss of their brother Mahavira.
Jains also celebrate Divali as a community festival, with the lighting of lights and festive meals. At this time, Jain businessmen close the old year's accounts and open new ones, with accompanying traditional rituals. They offer gifts to children, family members and employees. New Year cards are sent to friends and relatives.
Jnaana Pancami is a sacred day observed on the fifth day after Divali for the worship of scriptural knowledge. On this day fasting, veneration of the tirthankaras (deva vandan), holy recitations and auspicious meditation are performed, and the sacred texts preserved in religious libraries are cleaned and worshipped.
Kaartika Purnimaa: This day is observed on the fifteenth day after Divali. After this day, the Jain ascetics, who have retired for the monsoon retreat, begin their wanderings again. On Kaartika purnimaa, many Jains go on pilgrimage to Satrunjay. For the benefit of devotees who cannot make the journey, large paintings of Satrunjay are displayed for worship in local temples. This day is also celebrated as the birthday of Aacaarya Hemacandra, the great scholar ascetic of the twelfth century CE, and the birthday of Srimad Rajcandra, the nineteenth-century saint.
Maun Ekaadasi: This important day of one hundred and fifty auspicious events relating to the tirthankaras falls in December, and is observed by the devotees in total silence, fast, meditation and listening to sermons.
Mahavira Jayanti: The birthday of Mahavira is celebrated in April, with a grand chariot procession, public functions, and enactment of his life and message; it is a public holiday in India. A magnificent celebration takes place on this occasion at his birthplace at Ksatriya Kunda, Vaisali, in Bihar.
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