Kshamavani 2028: Date, History & Significance

The day's core is the Samvatsari (or Kshamavani) Pratikraman — a long collective rite of reviewing and confessing the year's faults of thought, word and deed toward all classes of being. It ends with the pratikraman formula and the request for forgiveness: 'Khamemi savve jiva, savve jiva khamantu me' — 'I forgive all beings, may all beings forgive me; I have friendship with all, enmity with none.'

Jains then approach family, friends, colleagues and even strangers, in person, by letter, phone and message, with 'Uttam Kshama' or 'Micchami Dukkadam', and the greeting is returned. Quarrels are ended, debts of feeling settled; it is held that forgiveness withheld on this day binds karma, and forgiveness given and sought frees it.

Kshama — forbearance and forgiveness — is the first and foundational of the ten dharmas. The festival's whole architecture, eight or ten days of restraint and reflection, is built to arrive at this day able to forgive completely. There is no legend attached: the day is the practice itself.

Source: Kalpa Sutra, Tattvartha Sutra and Jain conduct literature

The annual pratikraman and mutual forgiveness are prescribed in the earliest Jain conduct literature; Kshamavani / Samvatsari as the fixed high point of the Bhadrapada season is standard across all Jain communities today, and the exchange of forgiveness messages is now a large annual observance in the diaspora.

• Kalpa Sutra, Tattvartha Sutra and Jain conduct literature
• Jain community tradition and temple practice

1. The day after Das Lakshana ends, Digambar Jains ask forgiveness of everyone, family, friends and strangers, for any hurt caused in the year.
2. People meet in person, write letters and send messages with 'Uttam Kshama' or 'Micchami Dukkadam'.
3. Temples hold a collective prayer of forgiveness, and old quarrels are settled.

• All Jain communities. The collective Samvatsari / Kshamavani Pratikraman, and the seeking and granting of forgiveness across every relationship.
• Diaspora. Forgiveness messages sent community-wide; temple pratikraman held in the local language alongside Prakrit.

• Parana meals — Those who fasted through Das Lakshana break their fasts, and families host simple shared meals.

Kshamavani (Forgiveness Day) is kept on the day when Panchami of Bhadrapada Shukla paksha prevails at sunrise. That day is Thursday, 24 August 2028. Panchami holds at sunrise only on this day.

at sunrise

Kshamavani falls on Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami for Shvetambaras (as Samvatsari, the last day of Paryushana) and on the Pratipada after Ananta Chaturdashi for Digambaras (the day after Das Lakshana), in August or September. The pratikraman is done in the afternoon and evening.

A lunar date: Panchami of the bright half of Bhadrapada drifts about 11 days earlier each solar year, then jumps back ~19 days when a leap (Adhika) month is inserted.