Poṣh-daśamī (Posh Dashami) is the Jain festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankar. It is observed by Jains across Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions, though the exact dates can vary by regional calendars.

Why we celebrate it

• Purpose: To honor Parshvanath’s birth (jayanti) and to inspire devotion, self-discipline, and purification of mind.
• Core practices: Worship of Parshvanath, listening to sermons about his life, singing hymns, and meditative reflection. Lay devotees often take vows and may fast or observe stricter dietary rules during the festival.
• Symbolic rites: A lamp ceremony with a 108-wick lamp is sometimes used during evening puja; images of the Jina are decorated and revered.
• Spiritual aim: Cultivating peace, restraint, and progress on the path to liberation (moksha).

When it happens

• Poṣh-daśamī falls on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh days of the dark half of the Poṣhā/Māgsar month. The exact Gregorian date changes each year and can differ slightly between Digambar and Śvetāmbara calendars or local panchangs (north Indian vs Gujarati calendars). In 2025, it is seen around December 14, with local sighting possibly shifting by a day. Always check your temple’s calendar for the precise day. ( jainknowledge.com)

Traditions across Digambar and Śvetāmbara

• Both groups celebrate Poṣa-daśamī as Parśvanātha-jayantī, though exact tithis (dates) may differ by region. The essence remains the same: reverence for Parshvanath and commitment to spiritual vows. ( jainpedia.org)

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If you’d like, I can help find the exact Poṣa-daśamī date for your city or temple for a given year.