Many of you may not know a thing about Jainism and the NY Jain Center which won some architectural award or another about being the city’s coolest religious building(?)
Today begins the week-long Jain festival of Paryushana. In these 8 days many Jains fast in various ways – but it is not required.

Jains have more than 1 type of fast. But what is common is that most strict Jains won’t eat any green vegetables for the week and will follow the rules of Jainism to the best of their ability. So, no green veggies, no undergound veggies (like potatoes, onions, etc.) It’s a dream diet almost for those modelesque types…

I’m doing what they call an Ektanu or Ekashnu today which is that I sit down to eat once and while I’m eating I can’t get up. Once I get up, I don’t eat anything until sunrise tomorrow morning. The reason Jains do not eat after sunset when fasting is because of the increased amount of bacteria that rises during the night. So I’ll be eating at around 1 in the afternoon today and drinking boiled water for the rest of the time until tomorrow.

Then there are the hardcore bunches of people who fast for 8 days straight (not very common – more common in children than adults because they can mentally control themselves better than most adults). But there’s a woman in Long Island who is fasting for 45 days. She fasted last year for 30 days. Can you imagine doing something like that? It’s insanity! It’s unhuman! But it’s awesome that people exist who can do this and be attending public functions and events. It’s done to emphasize soul over body/matter for all you doubters and naysayers.

But in addition to the fasting and observance of Jain rules a great deal of emphasis is put on the meditation that is done daily. It’s done to ask for forgiveness from all souls that we may have harmed intentionally or unintentionally. A cleansing of sorts. A new slate. A new beginning.

(I’m hungry)

Michhami Dukadam (which is asking for forgiveness if I have offended anyone).