In Jainism, eating dairy (milk products) is common among lay Jains, but there are differences by tradition and personal choice:

• Generally allowed for many Swetambar and many Jain households: milk, ghee, curd, paneer, etc., are used in cooking.
• Some Jains prefer vegan dairy-free diets (no milk products) out of ahimsa concerns for cows or due to stricter personal vows. This is more common among those who follow stricter interpretations or live as ascetics.
• Digambar practitioners who renounce animal products (as ascetics) do not use dairy, but householders in the Digambar/other communities may still consume dairy, depending on their guidance and values.

What to do:

• Check with your own Jain community, temple, or guru for the guidance you follow in your tradition.
• If you’re unsure, you can experiment with a dairy-free period (for example, a few weeks) to see how it aligns with your practice and conscience.

If you’d like, I can tailor guidance to your specific Jain tradition (Digambar or Swetambar) and your personal vows.