• It is the day of forgiveness for Jains. It is celebrated on the last day of ‘Parva Paryushana’ which is the festival for the Shwetambara sect of Jainism
  
• Samvatsari Parva is one of the important and holiest festivals for the Jain community which falls generally in mid-August and September. It is celebrated on the last day of ‘Parva Paryushana’ which is the festival for the Shwetambara sect of Jainism. 
  
• Jain community on this day, observe fast and perform Pratikraman together.
  
• According to the Jain calendar, this auspicious day is observed on Shukla Panchami in the month of Bhadrapada, which is the 8th day of Paryushan Parva. 
  

Significance

• Jain strongly believes in forgiving.
• The forgiving plead is not limited to present life but also includes there all previous lives, Jains beg forgiveness from all living beings for faults they have made, whether deliberately or unknowingly.
• They forgive people animals and all kinds of living creatures. On this day, the poor are given alms, and the picture of a Jina (great teacher) is ceremoniously carried through the streets.
• The believers undertake a communal confession, and letters are sent asking for forgiveness.
  
• Jains say ‘michachhami dukkadam’ to their friends and family on Samvatsari.
• The meaning of the phrase is ‘I want your forgiveness if I have offended you in any way, consciously or inadvertently, in thought, word, or deed.
  
• ’Kshama yachna divas (apology-seeking day), daya divas (kindness day), and ahimsa divas (non-violence day) are some of the other names given to this festival.