India Post News Paper

LOS ANGELES: It is through the religious heritage of Lord Mahavir and his blessing that Sahil Doshi (12 years) and Sanil Doshi (10 years) did an eight-day fasting called Aathai. They were the youngest first timers who participated in Paryushan Mahaparva’s fasting since the beginning of Jain Center in Los Angeles.
Paryushan Mahaparva is a religious Jain event held yearly at the Jain Center in Buena Park wherein Tapascharyas, a name for the act of fasting for body, soul and heart purification is observed for a number of days.
During their eight days of fasting they only drank boiled water from sunrise to sunset. There was strictly no food or water after sunset for eight days. They visited the temple and prayed everyday. Sahil and Sanil are also active in youth activities and attend Sunday classes for Jainism, language and cultural activities.
To symbolize the end of their fasting, on September 2, friends and family visited the Doshi’s home to perform Varghodo – an act of cheering, dancing and singing with religious music. From their home, the celebration continued to the temple with the whole Jain community.
They all participated in Parna where each person offers a spoonful of special drink, mainly coconut juice and sweet water to the members who fasted. The festivity was also attended by Mayor Fred R. Smith of the City of Buena Park. It was indeed a time of joy and celebration to recognize the achievements of these young boys that made their parents, Tejas and Pinkal Doshi, family and friends very proud.

India Post News Service

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