It is a Jain festival, and is celebrated by both the Svetamber and the Digambar sects in the month of Bhadra (August September). The Svetambar Jains start observing it in the dark half of the month from the 13th day up to the fifth day of the bright half for eight days. But the Digambar (the sky-clad) Jains begin to observe it from the fifth day of the bright half of Bhadra and terminate it after eight days on the 13th lunar day.

This festival signifies a man's emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement from that of gross and depraved world. The ten cardinal virtues cultivated during this festival are : forgiveness, charity, simplicity, contentment, truthfulness, self restraint, fasting, detachment, humility and continence.

During the days of the celebration, the devout Jains keep fast, eat only once in a day, worship the Tirthankaras, and try to imbibe the qualities and virtues of great Jain saints and preachers. This is also the occasion of self-analysis and criticism and to do away with one's own shortcomings, etc. The Jains ask for one another's . forgiveness during this festival for an offense knowingly or unknowingly. Thus, it also helps in restoring lost relations and friendship .