Gandhinagar, Sept. 15 -- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel extended 'Michhami Dukkadam' to Jain and non-Jain citizens on the occasion of Samvatsari, the day marking the culmination of the Paryushan Mahaparva festival observed by the Jain community.

Patel expressed confidence that the festival, which encourages people to follow Lord Mahavir's principles of forgiveness, contentment, simplicity, humility, compassion and kindness towards all living beings, would further strengthen social harmony and humanity in the state.

Describing Paryushan Mahaparva as a festival of forgiveness and gratitude, the Chief Minister said the occasion serves as an opportunity for people to seek forgiveness for mistakes made knowingly or unknowingly throug...