चंद्र-मंगलः जैनम सूत्रम (Candra-Maṁgalaḥ Jainam Sutram)

Jainism has a very rich life of rituals and festivals. It is important to remember that these are not simply empty shows but they have a significant meaning for the benefit of the participant as well as viewers. The rituals should imprint the religious principles onto the peoples minds forever. Many events of Mahavira’s life are acted out frequently in the symbolic form and the symbols, actions, words and images unite to bring the message of Mahavira to the Jain followers.. For many people to whom the more complex aspects of religious philosophy are a closed book, the rituals provide a direction, a focus for the expression of devotion to the Tirthankara. The worships with the deep concentration and pure thoughts free of violence and harm disperse the accumulated karmas from the soul. The rituals are interwoven with the daily life of a pious Jain.The serious Jain layman fast, more or less completely, and undertake other religious practices on many auspicious days throughout the year. Worship before the Jina idols, bowing to the idols, and lighting a lamp in front of the idols is an ideal way to start the day for many Jains.