Jains want Kshamapana Parva as national day

NASHIK: The Jain community here has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Kshamapana Parva, one of the most significant days in Jainism, as a day of national observance. On Saturday, the Jains celebrated the event in a grand way for the first time in the city and drafted 1,008 letters addressed to the PM in favour of their demand.
"Mahakshamapana was celebrated in Nashik in a big way.Leaders of various Jain sects came together on a platform to promote the message of Kshamapana - the act of apologising for any wrongdoing committed by us and forgiving others who may have hurt us. A collective appeal was made to PM Modi through 1,008 letters with a request to take steps towards declaring the day as international Kshamapana day," said Paras Jain, president of the Jain Navkar Youth group.
Kshamapana Parva is marked on the last day of the annual Paryusana Parva, which is observed in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar. Paryusana Parva ends with the practice of forgiving each other. This year, the day of forgiveness was observed on September 17.
"If we can have Mother's Day, Father's Day and Daughter's Day, what's wrong in following the rich tradition of Indian culture and adopt this day as the day of forgiveness?," Jain said.
On the day of Kshamapana, the Jains chant Prakrit phrase Micchami Dukkadam (may all my faults be dissolved) to seek forgiveness. They approach friends and relatives seeking forgiveness for mistakes done knowingly and unknowingly.
"In the current scenario, when hatred and revenge are the prevailing emotions in people, forgiveness is the most important thing we could instil in our nature. This is the only solution to violence, intolerance and jealousy. Just like the world accepted Yoga Day on India's initiative, we want Kshamayapna Diwas to be promoted on the same line," Jain monk Ratneshwar Surishwer Maharaj said.