Jain dharma teaches that Paryushan (for Shwetambar) and Chaumasa (for Digambar) are occasions for internal purification, forgiveness, and restraint. Their purpose is not tied to weather anywhere, but to the soul’s purification and adherence to ahimsa, satya, and other vows.

Why you still follow them in America (even if climate/patterns differ)

• Core aim remains the same: reduce violence to life (including insects and microbes), reflect, study scriptures, and seek forgiveness for harms done.
• Paryushan and Chaumasa are about inner discipline (tapas), self-study (swadhyaya), and self-control. These practices support a universal Jain path, regardless of local monsoon or rainfall.
• The two traditions frame the period a little differently:

- Shwetambar: eight days of Paryushan, ending with Samvatsari (forgiveness day). - Digambar: Chaumasa-related observances extend over a longer monsoon-based period, with emphasis on restraint and reflection during that season.

• If local conditions make travel or strict forms of fasting difficult, the emphasis remains on intention and appropriate practice within one’s capacity. The Jain path allows adapting outward observances to one’s situation while preserving the spirit of ahimsa, anitya (non-attachment to ego), and pratikraman (self-purification through confession and forgiveness).

Important point from Jain teachings

• The festival is a time to shed karmas (karmas that bind the soul) and to align life more closely with the Jain virtues. This purpose is universal and not limited to a particular climate or geography.

Notes on tradition

• There are genuine differences between Digambar and Shwetambar practices in timing and details. The core principles, however, remain the same: introspection, fasting according to ability, study, and forgiveness.

If you’d like, I can summarize the key vows and practices (upsarga/utsarga) traditionally observed during Paryushan and Chaumasa in a simple, day-by-day outline suitable for someone living abroad.