Exclusive! Pooja Jhaveri: I have understood that Jainism is not a religion, it is a way of living

Paryushan is one of the most important festivals of the Jains usually festival is all about celebrations, get-togethers, eating lots of sweets and various dishes, wherein Paryushan is all about 'Tyag' it is about using the least material things, giving up on green vegetables, and eating the most 'Satvik Aahar' satvik food, since my childhood, we have religiously followed Paryushan at home and I love to follow it.Talking on this pure form of Paryushan days actress Pooja Jhaveri has explained the detailed meaning with ETimes exclusively.
Over the years of Pooja's study into it, Pooja says: "I have understood that Jainism is not a religion, it is a way of living. Jainism is all about ahimsa, having peace with every living organism living on the planet earth, not eating a few vegetables, eating before sunset and a few other restrictions all have scientific reasoning to it and after gaining knowledge about it I have gained more faith in it and I believe if the younger generation is taught about these values with reasoning a lot of them will relate to it as well."
Kshamapana is all about forgiving each other at the same time asking for forgiveness if we have knowingly or unknowingly hurt anyone absolutely, it is forgetting every harsh moment and starting it fresh and being in peace with everyone, I and my family, every night analyze our day and ask for forgiveness if we have been the cause of someone’s pain, this helps us correcting our actions daily.
What you eat is what you become; Aththai is usually observed once in every Jains life which is no food 'Anna Tyag' for 8 long days, people only stay on the water on these days, I have done Aththai thrice, later going into 9 days of fasts, 10, 11, and 16 these fasts are observed basically to make yourself free of any kind of moh, Maya, and also to gain control on our self, I do it in a belief that no living being on earth should sleep in hunger when you fast you understand the value of food, and hence you will waste less food, also I make it a point to feed someone while I am on my fast. This year being the lockdown I am observing fast for a total of 44 days at a stretch, absolute no food only warm water, which is called 'Siddhi Tap' it was solely done to pray for all the negatives and depressing things going around the world.
May this pious festival heal everyone around the globe and may there be love, peace, and light." ❤️