For Varsitap there are two different things to understand:

1. “Ideal” traditional start

- In many Shwetambar sanghs, samuha Varsitap (group Varsitap) is started so that parna falls on Akshay Tritiya (when Bhagwan Rishabhdev did parna). - That means they fix one tithi/date for everyone to begin together.

1. If you miss that start date

- You can still do Varsitap. The tapa is mainly about: - alternate‑day upvaas / ekasana, - done with right bhav, under guidance of Guru / elders. - If you miss the sangh start, you have two options: 1. Start your own individual Varsitap on a later shubh tithi (e.g. bright 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, etc.) with proper pachchakhān / sankalp from a sadhu, sadhvi, or senior shravak. 2. Join in the ongoing group Varsitap from today, and do full 1 year (or 13 months 13 days) counted from your first day, not from the sangh’s first day.

There is no rule that if you miss one particular calendar date, Varsitap becomes “invalid” or “not allowed”. What matters in Jain Dharma is:

• your capacity and health,
• ahiṁsā towards your own body,
• correct niyam and bhav.

Practical step:

• Speak to your guru / pravartak / local sangh.
• Take clear pachchakhān: start tithi, pattern (upvaas–ekasana), and expected parna tithi.
• Then begin Varsitap from the first possible suitable day; do not wait one full year just because you missed the original group date.

If you want detailed basics of what Varsitap is, you can read more here