Guru Purnima 2025: Know the Date, Timings, History, and Significance
It serves as the ideal time to pay respects to your teachers, regardless of what form they are in. Teachers in our lives can extend from our parents to our academic masters to even elder siblings.
Buddhists also observe Guru Purnima in commemoration of Gautama Buddha, which commemorates the day Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India.
It's an occasion for students to demonstrate their devotion to their gurus, making it a significant festival in all three religions. In addition to India, Nepal and Bhutan also celebrate Guru Purnima, where in Nepal, it is designated as the official Teacher's Day.
Ved Vyasa, a significant symbol of guru-shikshya ties, is a revered figure during Guru Purnima, which is why it is also known as Vyasa Purnima, commemorating his birth anniversary.
Originally, the festival was for spiritual or intellectual instructors, with the name Guru Purnima was taken from two separate origins. 'Guru' denotes a remover of darkness, and 'purnima' alludes to the full moon night on which it occurs.
It is observed on a full moon day in the Ashadha month, which falls either in June or July in the Gregorian calendar. In 2025, it falls on Thursday, July 10, with Purnima Tithi starting at 01:36 AM on July 10 and ending at 02:06 AM on July 11.
The observance of Guru Purnima raises a teacher to a level that removes ignorance from the student's life, elevating him to a higher plane. As a result, it is also a celebration of the knowledge and wisdom that a teacher possesses and shares. It also promotes the exchange of knowledge as the only way to achieve transcendence.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
In a rare confluence, all 3 Jain sects to observe Paryushan Maha Parva together this year
Mumbai: On Wednesday, Jains across the world will step into the quiet sanctity of Paryushan Maha Parva, a time when outer bustle gives way to inner stillness. This year marks a rare confluence: after decades, the three sects—Swetambars, Sthanakwasis, and Terapanthis—will observe the festival together. For lakhs of devotees, the eight-day festival is not just about ritual fasting but about turning inward—burning away karmas and contemplating the timeless wisdom of the Tirthankars. The word Paryushan itself is drawn from par (all kinds) and ushan (to burn)—a call to cleanse the self of every residue of attachment. For believers, fasting is not an act of denial but of freedom. "We fast because we want to be free from the shackles of hunger, lust and greed. It's about being at peace with oneself," explains Babulal Jain, a teacher of Jain philosophy. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai For Raman Tikka, trustee of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, the power of Paryushan lies less in festivity and more in the deep work of reflection. "Its true significance," he says, "is cultivating self-awareness, embracing noble values, and purifying the heart and soul." At the Mission's annual gathering, thousands of seekers—many of them young, far removed from ritual yet drawn to its meaning—will converge at NSCI Dome, Worli. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Each morning, they will immerse in Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji's discourses on Samvar Adhikaar from Natak Samaysar. Each evening, they will return to the words of Shrimad Rajchandraji, learning to "cure the disease of transmigration." Across temples too, monks will hold special sessions on the scriptures, carrying the teachings into everyday life. And at its heart, the festival remains an act of forgiveness. As Jain monk Vimalsagarji Maharajsaheb reminds: "This is the time of year when Jains ask for forgiveness, forgive those who have wronged them, and resolve to let it go. It is purification." The eight days are like a bridge between seasons—four days of Shravan and four of Bhadarva. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Paryushan 2025 Explained: Jain Food Rules, Health Benefits, And Sattvic Recipes To Try
As the Jain community prepares to observe Paryushan 2025 from August 21 to August 28, kitchens across India begin to reflect the spirit of simplicity, purity, and mindfulness. At its core, Paryushan is a deeply spiritual retreat marked by introspection, forgiveness, and non-violence. Food plays a quiet yet significant role in this period. From sattvic meals to vrat-friendly dishes, every bite is a reflection of compassion and restraint. Whether you are observing the rituals or simply curious about Jain cuisine, here is a guide that looks into the culinary customs of Paryushan. Expect wholesome recipes, gentle flavours, and meals that nourish both body and soul, prepared without onion, garlic, or root vegetables. What Is Paryushan And Why Is It Celebrated? Paryushan Parva, often called the "festival of forgiveness", is one of the most sacred observances in Jainism. Celebrated annually, it spans eight days for Shwetambar Jains and ten days for Digambar Jains. The word Paryushan comes from "pari" meaning "all sides" and "ushan" meaning "to stay close to the soul". This is a time to pause worldly activities and reflect within. The festival encourages spiritual growth through fasting, meditation, prayer, and self-restraint. It culminates in the ritual of Samvatsari, where Jains say "Micchami Dukkadam" - a heartfelt request for pardon. Significance Of Paryushan Parva: At its heart, Paryushan is about liberation through forgiveness. The teachings of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara, guide this period. His principles - Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and Anuvrat (small vows) - are not just philosophical ideals but practices followed closely during Paryushan. Devotees engage in Pratikraman, a ritual of introspection and repentance. They read sacred Jain texts, chant mantras, and meditate to cleanse the mind and soul. Mahavir Jayanti And Its Connection To Paryushan: Though Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated in April, its essence is interwoven into Paryushan. On the fifth day, Jains observe Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Vanchan, a ceremonial reading of Lord Mahavir's birth story. During Paryushan, followers live by his teachings in every aspect, from food choices to daily conduct, reinforcing the idea that spiritual practice is not limited to rituals but reflected in everyday living. Paryushan Rules Around Food: What To Avoid And Why? One of the most striking aspects of Paryushan is the discipline around food. Jain dietary rules are rooted in Ahimsa, which means avoiding harm to any living being. This includes avoiding root vegetables such as onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots, as uprooting them kills the plant and disturbs soil organisms. Leafy greens are avoided on certain days as they may harbour small organisms. Fermented foods are skipped as they are considered to contain micro-organisms. Food is eaten before sunset so that no harm is caused to insects at night and digestion remains light. These rules ensure meals are sattvic, pure, and aligned with the spirit of compassion. Health Benefits Of A Jain Diet During Paryushan: Beyond its spiritual significance, the Jain diet during Paryushan has practical health benefits. Eating early in the evening improves digestion and supports circadian health. Avoiding heavy spices and fried foods reduces acidity and bloating. A sattvic diet, rich in fruits, whole grains, and light dals, promotes gut health and leaves the body energised rather than sluggish. Many also observe fasting in different forms - some on fruit, some on one meal a day, and some even on boiled water only. Fasting gives the body a natural detox while also helping with mental clarity and discipline. Modern Jain-Friendly Food Swaps For Paryushan: While traditional rules are observed, modern kitchens have adapted with clever ingredient swaps that allow variety without breaking guidelines: Replace potatoes with pumpkin or raw bananas in sabzi. Use banana or peanut-based raita instead of curd. Add hing (asafoetida) for depth instead of garlic. Swap refined sugar with jaggery or dates in sweets. These substitutions not only keep food sattvic but also make it easier for younger generations to balance tradition with taste. Paryushan Fasting Vs. Non-Fasting: How People Adapt? Not every Jain follows the same pattern of fasting. While some devotees go on a complete fast with only water, others observe ekasana (eating once a day) or upvas (fruit-based fasting). Many balance by having sattvic meals without onion, garlic, or root vegetables, ensuring they can sustain themselves through work and daily life. This flexibility shows how Paryushan can be adapted without losing its essence. Paryushan 2025: A Simple Meal Plan To Follow The meal plan during Paryushan reflects balance, restraint, and purity. Each meal is prepared with sattvic ingredients that support both fasting and mindfulness. 1. For Breakfast During Paryushan, many devotees choose to fast or eat minimally. For those who do have breakfast, the focus is on light nourishment that supports gut health and detoxification: Warm water with soaked dry fruits Methi dana or jeera water Fresh fruits such as banana, apple, papaya 2. For Lunch Lunch is the most substantial meal, consumed before sunset in line with Jain principles of minimal harm. These meals focus on simple cooking and nourishment to keep the body calm and steady. Plain khichdi with no tadka Sabzi without onion, garlic, or root vegetables such as potato Dal with minimal spices Atta roti without ghee Simple salad with cucumber, tomato, capsicum 3. For Evening Dinner is kept light and simple, often resembling breakfast or lunch but in smaller portions. It is usually consumed before sunset. Simple khichdi or dal rice Sabudana khichdi with rock salt Fresh fruits (not pre-cut or stored) Also Read: Watch: How To Make No-Onion, No-Garlic Gravy For All Indian Curries Traditional Jain Recipes For Paryushan 2025: These sattvic recipes reflect the essence of Paryushan while keeping meals nourishing and wholesome. 1. Sabudana Khichdi: A classic during vrat, sabudana khichdi is light yet filling. Made with soaked sabudana, roasted peanuts, rock salt, and mild spices, it is easy to prepare and keeps you energised. You can also order it through online food delivery apps and savour on-the-go. 2. Kuttu Ka Cheela: Buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta) is gluten-free and easy to digest. You can make cheela using this flour instead of besan and pair it with fresh coriander chutney. 3. Lauki Soup: Bottle gourd (lauki) is hydrating and cooling. Boiled and blended with a pinch of jeera and rock salt, this soup is ideal for breaking a fast. 4. Dal Dhokli: A comforting Rajasthani dish made with dal and atta dumplings, it is wholesome and nutrient-rich. A Jain-style dal dhokli can also be ordered from delivery apps when pressed for time. 5. Bhaat Na Muthiya: A steamed Gujarati delicacy made from leftover rice, atta, and mild spices, it is a perfect instance of zero-waste cooking. These dumplings are shaped by hand and gently steamed, making them light yet satisfying. They require no onion, garlic, or root vegetables and pair well with moong dal or lauki soup. 6. Kela Anar Raita Without Curd: This refreshing side dish skips curd and uses mashed ripe banana and pomegranate seeds, lightly seasoned with rock salt and roasted jeera powder. It is naturally sweet, cooling, and sattvic, ideal for fasting days. The Bottom Line: Paryushan is observed through mindful eating, introspection, and forgiveness. The food served during this period is a reflection of compassion, simplicity, and spiritual discipline. Whether you are observing the festival or interested in Jain cuisine, these recipes, rules, and rituals offer a gentle reminder of inner peace and balance.
The Wire
a day ago
- The Wire
Debris in Place of a Village: Three Days After Flood, Chisoti Villagers Wait for Relative's Bodies
Jehangir Ali From dawn to dusk, several earth-moving machines and stone excavators struggle to undo the plunder. Chisoti (Kishtwar, J&K): At around 11:40 am on August 14, a group of children were rehearsing for the Independence Day celebrations at their school in Chisoti village of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district when a strange and dreadful noise filled the air. 'I felt as if a VIP was coming to perform the yatra in a chopper which had crashed,' said Hukum Chand, a teacher at a government-run middle school in Chisoti. Every year in July, this difficult village some 300 kilometres from Srinagar via NH-44 comes to life when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from different states come to undertake a nine-km hike to the temple of Machail Mata, a sacred annual pilgrimage for the Hindus deep in the Himalayas. Chisoti serves as the final basecamp of the pilgrimage which lasts more than three months and brings a lot of festivities and immense economic opportunities for the village's few hundred locals. So far this year, two lakh pilgrims have participated in the arduous journey under the watchful gaze of dozens of security personnel and disaster response officials who had been deployed in the village to facilitate the pilgrimage. Before the yatra started on July 25, a large community kitchen came up in the village square catering to more than 5000 pilgrims every day. Around the kitchen, hundreds of stalls, mostly run by local residents, had sprung up selling food, mementos, cheap bangles, chains, earrings and other items to the pilgrims. 'On the morning of the fateful day,' recalled Joginder Singh, a resident of Chaisoti who recently completed postgraduate degree in botany from a university in Uttarakhand, 'a heavy but brief spell of shower lashed the village'. Soldiers of the Indian army carrying a steel beam to make a bridge over the Bhot tributary in Chisoti village. Photo: Jehangir Ali. Sumit Solanki, an eyewitness and a small time trader from Madhya Pradesh, said that he was hawking miniature deities, toy drums and other mementos to the pilgrims when he saw a 'wall of water, mud and trees' crashing down into the village from the mountain. As the massive column of muddy water concealing uprooted trees and large boulders emerged from the mouth of the narrow Himalayan valley with a lethal force, panic broke out. The village's two temples were among the first structures to face the wrath. 'It was a 50-60 feet high wall. I ran for my life and climbed up the mountain,' said Solanki. The armageddon lasted barely a minute or two. Running for their lives, some pilgrims and local residents recorded the chaos on their smartphones. One video shows the dreadful column tearing the right bank of Bhot, spilling over and sweeping away some residential houses. Tulsi Devi, a housewife, was waiting for her turn at the village watermill with a bag of barley down at the tributary when the incoming wave swallowed her. The bustling Kali Mata temple was swept away, too, along with Bhod Raj, the head priest, who was performing his religious duties. 'Our people have sinned,' said Meena Devi, Raj's daughter, at their rundown home, 'My father had been warning us. This is the curse of Mata Chandi. She has taken away our temples and our deities. It is a bad omen. We should not live here anymore'. A man from the security forces speaking over phone beside the roots of a massive walnut tree that was swept into the village by the flash flood on August 14. Photo: Jehangir Ali. Like Raj, Dina Nath, the head priest of Nag Devta temple, was attending to the devotees of Mata Machail when the tragedy struck. His nephew Daljit Singh who ran a food stall managed to escape the fury of nature by running into the forest. 'When I returned, neither the temple was in its place nor my uncle was to be found. Everything was destroyed. We later found his body,' Singh said. But not many victims and their family members have been as fortunate as Singh. Three days after the tragedy, the agonising wait for the dead is far from over for Raj's family and 86 other households who have reported members as missing. According to official figures obtained by The Wire, around 70 people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy. Their bodies have been recovered. Around 110 have suffered injuries. A group of state and central disaster response officials at the site of the tragedy in Chisoti village. Photo: Jehangir Ali. From dawn to dusk, several earth-moving machines and stone excavators struggle to undo the plunder. On August 17, two days after the tragedy, the army was preparing to set off explosives for disintegrating the massive boulders that have destroyed the village partially. At least two more bodies were pulled out from the debris on August 17 but little seems to have changed about the village's ruined geography. The air in Chisoti is putrid, and with the dead believed to be buried underground, there are fears that the situation could worsen in the coming alleged slow pace of rescue operations has built up anger in the village. 'For the last two days, anyone who comes here is more interested in taking photos. We don't want anything. We only want the dead bodies,' Happy Singh screamed at J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah who visited the village on August 16. In this image released by @CM_JnK via X on Aug. 16, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his visit to Chisoti village after a flash flood triggered by cloudburst, in Kishtwar. Photo: Via PTI. Along with his cousin, Singh has been camping in the village since August 15 and searching for his mother and aunt along with 17 others from their native Bari Brahmna area of Jammu who are among the missing persons. As the dreadful column of muddy water crashed into Chenab river and a shallow stream of sludge replaced it, Chand guided the school children further away from Bhot and hiked up into the forest where they watched hundreds of anguished men, women and children, many of them barefooted, screaming in shock and agony, running for their lives. It was all over in less than two minutes, said Chand. When the worst had passed, the young school teacher returned to the village along with a group of cooks who were working at the community kitchen at the time of the tragedy and had managed to escape in the nick of time. The remains of a residential house on the banks of Bhot whose base was eroded by the flash flood, burying the structure partially into the ground. Photo: Jehangir Ali. The massive column of water that came down the mountain had swept away the under-construction bridge over Bhot. Across the tributary, Chand saw his and his brother's home badly damaged. When he looked down into the tributary, dead bodies were scattered on the riverbank. The injured, covered in mud, were screaming for help. 'Beneath the rubble, I saw a human hand making movements. We dug with our bare hands and retrieved a woman. She took a long gasp when her face became visible. She was lucky to have survived,' Chand said. The young teacher said that the rescue workers took an hour or so to build a river crossing using logs and planks of wood. Having finally made it across the tributary, Chand started searching for his brother, his wife and their daughter beneath the debris but he wasn't so fortunate. The dead bodies were located and recovered from the very home which had protected them all these years. With dozens of army soldiers and disaster response force officials racing against time to locate the dead, chances of finding more survivors have faded out. 'We have been working from dawn till dusk for the last two days,' said Shakeel Hussain, an official with J&K's State Disaster Response Force, 'Rain hampered our work initially and it will take seven days or even more to complete the searches'. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Advertisement
