India, Sept. 5 -- The followers of Jainisms in Toronto - the capital city of Canada - are celebrating week-long Daslakshan Parva or Paryushana, which is deemed as a holy time during Bhadrapad Month's Shukla Paksha.
It is the festival of self-purification and spiritual growth through fasting, chanting hymns, prayers and meditation. However, the followers are encouraged to practice according to their ability for fasting.
For the Jains in Toronto, the span of the fast can last from a day to a month by taking frugal food and water once in a day between sunrise and sunset. No meal is taken after Sunset during this period. However, during normal days Canadian Jains are liberal about the timings of the meals which are vegetarian invariably.
The...