At Pankaj Jain Sangh Breaking of the 180-day Fast (Parna) of Jain ShravakNipekshSheth to Take Place on September 20
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 16: As a rare and inspiring penance highlighting Jainism’s tradition of austerity, renunciation, and self-restraint, the conclusion (Parna) of the 180-day fast undertaken by Nipeksh Sheth will be solemnized under the sacred presence of Gacchadhipati Param Pujya Acharya Shri Narratnasurishwarji Maharaja at Pankaj Jain Sangh, located in Bhattha, Paldi, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in a deeply emotional and spiritual atmosphere. On this occasion, monks and nuns of the Jain community, laymen (Shravaks), laywomen (Shravikas), family members, relatives, and community leaders will be present to congratulate and extend their best wishes to the ascetic Nipeksh Sheth. It is noteworthy that the Jain Shravak Nipeksh Sheth had initiated this rigorous penance on March 24, 2026.
Jain Sravaka Nipeksha Seth’s penance celebration Shakrastava Abhishek on 18th September at 6.30 am and Sanji Mehndi at 2.30 pm, Various programs like Tap Vandanavali at 6.30 am on September 19 and Kumarpal Maharaja Aarti at 7.30 pm and Shobhayatra Sahparanu at Pankaj Jain Sangh on September 20 have also been organized.
Blessing the ascetic and addressing journalists, Gacchadhipati Gurudev Param Pujya Acharya Shri Narratnasurishwarji Maharaja, who administered the vows (Pachchhkhandata) for Nipeksh Sheth’s penance, stated: “Today’s youth power is the invaluable heritage of a developed India, tasked with preserving the core values of all communities in the country. In this materialistic era, preserving these values can certainly be achieved through resolute faith, self-restraint, and supreme penance of will power by remaining steadfast for 180 days solely on boiled water. Fasting is not merely a means of causing hardship to the physical body, but a spiritual process of cleansing the karmic impurities accumulated on the soul. This long penance by Nipeksh Sheth is an inspiration for the entire Jain Order and society. Along with his internal purification, this austerity will strengthen the spirit of sacrifice and dedication in society.”
Gacchadhipati Param Pujya Acharya Shri Narratnasurishwarji Maharaja further added that proper dietary habits are crucial for keeping the body healthy. Improper dietary habits are the root cause of all diseases; nowadays, people are increasingly consuming junk food or frozen food, leading to unexpected illnesses. Some people believe that excessive fasting makes a person weak, but that is not true. Fasting performed correctly helps a person cultivate self-restraint and attain self-purification. Shravak Nipeksh Sheth’s 180-day restrained fast will surely inspire the youth and the new generation across all communities to lead a life of self-restraint, good conduct, and spirituality.
Expressing his personal experience and inner feelings regarding the penance, the ascetic Shri Nipeksh Sheth said: “My faith in Jainism, along with the guidance and blessings of my parents and Gacchadhipati Gurudev Param Pujya Acharya Shri Narratnasurishwarji Maharaja, turned this 180-day penance into the greatest spiritual journey of my life. In the initial days, there were physical challenges, but the blessings of Gurubhagwant Param Pujya Acharya Shri Narratnasurishwarji Maharaja, firm faith in the Jinshasan (Jain Order), and the chanting of the Navkar Mantra made physical fatigue vanish. During this penance, I realized that if the mind is strong, the body can endure any difficult resolve. This austerity has granted me immense inner peace, non-violence, and a true realization of self-restraint. This achievement is not mine alone, but the result of divine grace from the Guru and the selfless support of my family.”
