During Paryushan, families have a chance to pause, breathe, and turn their focus inward together. For eight days, togetherness brings pause for reflection, action, and an invitation to foster kindness and forgiveness that extends into every aspect of home life.
Starting each day with family intention, practising small acts of self-restraint, and coming together on the last day of Paryushan and genuinely saying, “Micchami Dukkadam”, all these lovely moments offer an opportunity to create home and life together.
Paryushan presents the unique opportunity for families to collectively develop understanding, compassion, and peace, using simple family acts to co-create memories linked to shared values and spiritual development.
Lighting the Day with Purpose
Begin each morning with the family gathering in one place, lighting a lamp, and chanting the Navkar Mantra. Allow each member to offer up a singular word that they’d like to take into their day, like “patience,” “kindness,” or “truthfulness.” In the evening, gather again and reflect on how each word influenced the actions of the day. It’s a practice that mirrors the inward focus encouraged by Shrimad Rajchandraji Mission Dharampur, keeping Paryushan anchored in meaningful personal change.
One Discipline, Many Hearts
Select one dietary or lifestyle discipline everyone can adopt for the entire eight days, like doing regular puja and aradhana, avoiding green vegetables and eating dinner before sunset. Simplicity in one shared practice creates unity. As guidance of the discourses of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji tells, little consistency in self-restraint can provide a profound experience in awareness during Paryushan.
This year, those attending the Festival of Forgiveness, Paryushan 2025 Event at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai, between 20–27 August 2025, will experience eight days of inspiring pravachans by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, sacred pujas, special evening events, and the concluding Samvatsarik Aradhana.
Forgiveness as a Family Bond
Samvatsari is the heart of Paryushan, a time to seek and grant forgiveness. Turn it into a family circle where each person says Micchami Dukkadam and adds one heartfelt line expressing their apology or gratitude. It transforms the formal ritual into a moment of closeness, allowing emotions to be shared openly and bonds to be renewed.
Many Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur reviews from past Paryushan Celebrations highlight how this simple yet profound practice leaves a lasting sense of peace at home, an experience that attendees can look forward to at the upcoming Paryushan celebrations at the NSCI Dome, Worli.
Virtues in Action
Choose one virtue every day- compassion, self-control, non-violence or non-possessiveness. Either read a brief story on a Tirthankara or recount an episode from family life where the virtues were observed. Follow this with a discussion on how to live that virtue for the remainder of the day. In this way, Paryushan is sustained in the everyday choices we make, reflecting the eternal Jain teaching.
Also Read: Paryushan and the Path of Ahimsa: Living Non-Violence Beyond the Plate
Quiet Steps, Kind Hands
Spend a day reflecting quietly and walking together in silence in a local park or nature area. Notice the birds, the breeze, and the tiniest movement around you. When you return, take the sense of calmness that is produced from your time spent together in silence and use it in some community act of kindness, whether it is donating clothes, cooking for someone, or helping out a neighbour.
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji often talks about how both inner awareness and outer service need to exist; this balancing act feeds the spirit.
The Gentle Challenge of a Points Chart
Create a simple chart. Family members can earn points for small deeds like meditation, helping without being asked, and talking gently. At the end of each day, tally the points and make a round of gratitude, where everyone names an act they appreciated from another family member. It turns daily discipline into a fun shared challenge, and during Paryushan, it is a reminder that spiritual growth can coincide with fun.
The experiences of Paryushan are most lasting when families incorporate its spirit into everyday life. The shared act of contemplation, service and reflection encourages a deeper connection that will be remembered long after the festival. When families honestly engage these days, every family can build an annual legacy of connection, compassion and conscious living.
