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Ratha yaatra: This ceremony involves taking the image of the tirthankara in a 'chariot', in procession along the main roads of the city or town, accompanied by musicians and by thousands of devotees, including ascetics.
Sangha Yaatra: This is a barefoot pilgrimage to the holy places by hundreds of devotees from the fourfold order. Along the way in towns and villages, fellow Jains welcome the pilgrims; ascetics who are among the pilgrims preach sermons; and the wealthy pilgrims donate to local temples. During this spiritual journey, six rules should be scrupulously observed: pilgrims should travel on foot and barefoot; they should desist from sensual and carnal pleasures; they must eat food only once a day; they should avoid consuming raw or green vegetables; they must sleep on a mat on the ground and should not sleep on a bed or a mattress; and pilgrims must observe a vow of righteousness.
A family normally sponsors the Sangha yatra; the family members and relatives take care of each pilgrim personally. One, or more, member(s) of the family will fast in rotation on each day of the pilgrimage. Pujaa, sermons, recitations and rituals are the daily activities. At the end of the pilgrimage, the sponsor gives a gift to each pilgrim. It is the practice to award the title of Sanghavi to the pilgrimage sponsor, who is honoured by placing a garland around his neck (maalaaropana), and the honour of placing the garland goes to the highest bidder who offers a donation to the temple.
Mastakaabhiseka: Every twelfth year, in Sravanbelgola, Karnataka, the colossal image of Bahubali standing upright, unclothed and meditating, fifty-seven feet high (over seventeen metres) and carved from solid rock, has its head anointed. The veneration of this thousand-year-old image is of particular importance to Digambars who revere Bahubali as the first Jain to attain moksa in our age. Thousands of Jains of all sects come to take part in the ceremony, which lasts several weeks. For the ceremony, scaffolding is erected around the huge statue, to facilitate the devotees to anoint it by pouring sacred liquids over the image. The last head anointing ceremony took place in 1993.
Saadharmika Vaatsalya: At the conclusion of most sacred days and festivals in the Jain calendar and on many auspicious occasions, a community dinner (saadharmika vaatsalya) is organised. It is also called Navakarasi (‘dinner for those who recite the Navakara') and is considered as a pious act for the family who sponsors it. (Kalpa Sutra 1972, Bhadrabahu Muni 1986: pp.89-101, Jain J. 1983: pp.119-124)
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