Varshitap 2026
Varshitap 2026 was on 11 March 2026 and on 19 April 2026. In 2027 it is on 30 March 2027 and on 8 May 2027. Varshitap is a year-long tap of fasting on alternate days, in memory of Bhagwan Rishabhdev's long fast, which he broke with sugarcane juice on Akshaya Tritiya.
Varshitap 2026 dates
| Observance | Date | Tithi | Tradition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varshitap ArambhStart of the year-long alternate-day fast, on the day of Bhagwan Rishabhdev's diksha | 11 March 2026WednesdayPhalguna Krishna Ashtami | Phalguna Krishna Ashtami | Shwetambar |
| Akshaya Tritiya (Varshitap Parana)Bhagwan Rishabhdev's first meal of sugarcane juice after his fast; Varshitap fasts are broken | 19 April 2026SundayVaishakha Shukla Tritiya | Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya | Shwetambar and Digambar |
Dates follow the udaya tithi (the tithi at sunrise), as Jain panchangs do. Gachchhas and sanghs sometimes differ by a day; follow your own sangh's announcement where it differs.
Rishabhdev and Akshaya Tritiya
After taking diksha, Bhagwan Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankara, went from house to house for alms, but no one in that age knew how to give food to a monk. He went without food for about four hundred days, until Prince Shreyans Kumar of Hastinapur offered him sugarcane juice on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya. That day became Akshaya Tritiya.
How Varshitap is kept
Varshitap begins on Phalguna Krishna Ashtami (Fagan Vad 8), the day of Rishabhdev's diksha, and ends on Akshaya Tritiya of the next year, about thirteen months later. The fast is kept on alternate days, with Biyasana on the days between; on Chaudas and other parva tithis the fast is kept even when it isn't the turn.
The parana is a celebration: those completing Varshitap break their fast with sugarcane juice, many at Palitana or Hastinapur.
Frequently asked questions
When does Varshitap start?
On Phalguna Krishna Ashtami (Fagan Vad 8), 11 March 2026 this year.
When is the Varshitap parana?
On Akshaya Tritiya, 19 April 2026 this year.
About This Content
Jain festival and parva tithi dates are calculated by the Vedic Tithi engine from the tithi at sunrise (udaya tithi) at your location; Paryushan and Samvatsari keep India's date. Our automated tests compare these dates with a leading published panchang for New Delhi, New York and Vancouver. Gachchhas and sanghs sometimes differ by a day, so follow your own sangh's announcement where it differs. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.
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Last updated: October 2026