Jains to shun phones, leafy vegetables for eight days

Hyderabad, Aug 16 (IANS) Jains across the country will shun mobile phones and vehicles and will stop eating leafy vegetables from August 19 to 26, a period the community will be celebrating as Maha Paryushana Parv (World Forgiveness Day).

There are an estimated 60 lakh Jains in the country, including over three lakh in Hyderabad.

According to Praveen Rishi Upadhyaya, Jain monk and initiator of several unique initiatives, during these eight days the entire community strives towards self-purification through fasting and sacrifice.

"They shun eating fresh and leafy vegetables to avoid killing micro-organisms. They will stop eating food in the night, use only boiled water, do prayer-Pratikaman in the morning and evening," he said.

Jains will also stop using mobile phones during the period. They will walk barefoot and also avoid using vehicles. They will practice simple living and practice brahmacharya, said Sampath Raj Kothari, Chairman of Sri Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, Secunderabad, which will organise the festival.

At the end of the festival, Jains acknowledge their mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

On the last day of the festival, nearly 99 per cent of Jains will go on fast with exceptions to some on health grounds.

(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)