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Oli - The Jain Festival on April 5 - 13, 2006

Oli, the most important festival of Jain Ceremony known as Siddha Chakra worship is celebrated twice in a year viz., Aswija month and Chaitra month each lasting for 9 days and is called Oliji from the 7th to the 15th of the Full Moon.

According to Jain, literature indicates that Navapad Oli festival existed from times immoral. The soul becomes Arihant, by worshipping the godhood Arihand. On a small tale of wood, plate of silver, a circle is drawn which is divided by eight raddi into 8 cambers and in these chambers, the names or images of Siddha, Acharya,Upadhya and Sadhu ad the words Darshan, Jnan, Charitra and Tapa are written in consecutive order and in the centre the word 'Arihant' is mentioned.

During the celebration, puja is daily performed to all these names collectively and each name is also worshipped in turn with special ceremonies and offerings for nine days. The worshipper keeps special fast known as 'Amil' for the whole period taking during the third part of the day, water and boiled food without mixing anything. There are White, Red, Yellow, Blue and Black. On the last day, Navapada puja is performed with great before the Siddha Chakra Mandal with singing and offering consisting of water, milk, saffron and its completion is celebrated with utmost glory and pomp.