Buddhist and Jain Festivals — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Revise through four columns: name, tradition, meaning and place or cycle. Pair Mahavir Jayanti with birth and Jain Diwali with final liberation. Pair Vesak with the Buddha’s life commemorations and Losar with the Tibetan New Year. A question can preserve the correct religious community while swapping the event, so recognise more than the name.

For Paryushan and Dasalakshana, keep the commonly described sect and duration together: Svetambara with eight-day Paryushan, Digambara with ten-day Dasalakshana. Do not transfer a local conclusion-day label indiscriminately across traditions. Gregorian dates vary with the relevant calendar and should be used only for a specified year and source.

Attach the twelve-year major Mahamastakabhisheka cycle to Shravanabelagola and its Bahubali image. Other anointing ceremonies can have different schedules. Finally, separate institutional dates from ancient events: the 1999 UN resolution recognises Vesak, and a 2026 inauguration held on a festival does not establish its origin. Check the factual pairing before relying on a familiar place name or an impressive date.