The Jain festival of Paryushana is currently taking place.
Jainism is an ancient Indian religion, one of its defining principles being a commitment to non-violence.
The annual commemoration is regarded as the most holy event of the year for Jains, as those who observe it fast, reflect on the past year and repent for any wrongdoings they may have committed.
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Here is everything you need to know.
When is Paryushana this year?
This year Paryushana is taking place from Saturday 15 August until Saturday 22 August.
The festival is commemorated across India in the month of Bhadrapada on the Hindu calendar, which falls between August and September on the Gregorian calendar every year.
How long is it observed for?
There are two major sects in Jainism: the Digambara (meaning sky-clad in Sanksrit) and the Svetambara (meaning white-clad). Monks in the Digambara sect do not wear clothes, while monks in the Svetambara sect wear white clothing, hence their names.
Jains in the Svetambara sect observe Paryushana for eight days, while Jains in the Digambara sect commemorate the holy festival for 10 days.
Furthermore, Jains in the Digambara sect refer to the festival as Das Lakshana, while Jains in the Svetambara sect refer to it as Paryushana, explains the Jaina Education Committee.
“During these eight or ten days, the entire Jain community becomes engrossed in spiritual and religious activities,” the committee states.
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Leicester, England: The Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre is brilliantly lit up. Over 35,000 people came together to celebrate in Leicester, one of the biggest gatherings outside of India.
Getty Images
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India-Bangladesh border: Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers light candles inside a bunker.
Reuters
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India: Businessmen write religious verses on their record-keeping books as part of a ritual to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth. The ritual, also known as “Muhurat trading” is considered auspicious by traders.
Reuters
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Leicester, England: Two young children, one holding a sparkler, celebrate together on the streets.
Getty Images
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Amritsar, India: A group of people light candles outside the Harmandir Sahib, a Sikh Gurdwara in Amritsar.
AFP/Getty Images
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Amritsar, India: A Sikh man lights a candle across the lake from the Golden Temple.
AFP/Getty Images
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Jammu, India: A reveller reacts excitedly to fireworks set off outside her home.
AP
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Watford, England: A woman holds a lantern close.
Getty Images
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Mumbai, India: In Mumbai, more fireworks are set off to celebrate Diwali.
AP
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Chandigarh, India: People light lamps as they make a formation of a peace symbol.
Reuters
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Ajmer, India: A lone man takes in the view as fireworks light up the sky.
AP
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Allahabad, India: As nightfall approaches, earthen lamps are lit at the Sangam.
AFP/Getty Images
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Watford, England: Worshipers gather to pray at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple in Watford.
Getty Images
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Karachi, Pakistan: A small girl crouches by a “rangoli”, a traditional pattern made from coloured powders.
Reuters
1/14 dwlbelgrave.jpg
Leicester, England: The Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre is brilliantly lit up. Over 35,000 people came together to celebrate in Leicester, one of the biggest gatherings outside of India.
Getty Images
2/14 dwlborder.jpg
India-Bangladesh border: Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers light candles inside a bunker.
Reuters
3/14 dwlbusinessmen.jpg
India: Businessmen write religious verses on their record-keeping books as part of a ritual to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth. The ritual, also known as “Muhurat trading” is considered auspicious by traders.
Reuters
4/14 dwlchildren.jpg
Leicester, England: Two young children, one holding a sparkler, celebrate together on the streets.
Getty Images
5/14 dwlgoldentemple.jpg
Amritsar, India: A group of people light candles outside the Harmandir Sahib, a Sikh Gurdwara in Amritsar.
AFP/Getty Images
6/14 dwlgoldentemple2.jpg
Amritsar, India: A Sikh man lights a candle across the lake from the Golden Temple.
AFP/Getty Images
7/14 dwljammufirework.jpg
Jammu, India: A reveller reacts excitedly to fireworks set off outside her home.
AP
8/14 dwllantern.jpg
Watford, England: A woman holds a lantern close.
Getty Images
9/14 dwlmumbai.jpg
Mumbai, India: In Mumbai, more fireworks are set off to celebrate Diwali.
AP
10/14 dwlpeacesymbol.jpg
Chandigarh, India: People light lamps as they make a formation of a peace symbol.
Reuters
11/14 dwlrajasthan.jpg
Ajmer, India: A lone man takes in the view as fireworks light up the sky.
AP
12/14 dwlsangamlamps.jpg
Allahabad, India: As nightfall approaches, earthen lamps are lit at the Sangam.
AFP/Getty Images
13/14 dwlwatford.jpg
Watford, England: Worshipers gather to pray at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple in Watford.
Getty Images
14/14 dwlrangoli.jpg
Karachi, Pakistan: A small girl crouches by a “rangoli”, a traditional pattern made from coloured powders.
Reuters
What is the significance of the festival and how is it observed?
Paryushana, which means “abiding” or “coming together”, is a festival of forgiveness, with those who observe it taking the time to reflect and repent.
Those who take part traditionally go to temples and impose restrictions on themselves, such as through the act of fasting.
The festival is “marked by strict observance of the 10 cardinal virtues”, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America states.
These are: forgiveness, charity, simplicity, contentment, truthfulness, self-restraint, fasting, detachment, humility and continence, the organisation outlines.
“A Jain is supposed to spend the time focusing inward on their own soul, reflecting on their habits and actions, and affirming their commitments to Jain principles,” states the Young Jains of America.
The final day of the festival, which is known as Samvatsari, involves worshippers making a confession for the sins they have committed during the previous year. The confession is called Samvatsari Pratikramana.
“During the Pratakraman, we repent or ask for forgiveness for various deeds where we might have done wrong. It also reminds us of what is right and what is wrong, so we can attempt to prevent those things from happening again in future,” it states in an article published by the Federation of Jaina.