Cerritos Brothers Youngest to Complete 8-Day Religious Fast

Editor's Note: This article was submitted by Tejas Doshi, father of Sahil and Sanil Doshi.

It is through the religious heritage by the Lord Mahavir and his blessing that 12-year-old Sahil Doshi and his brother Sanil Doshi, 10, last month completed an 8-day fasting called Aathai.

The two Cerritos boys were the youngest to ever participate in the religious fast since the inception of the Jain Center of Southern California located in nearby Buena Park. The center is a non-profit religious organization that practices, promotes and preserves Jainism, an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence toward all living beings. 

Paryushan Mahaparva is a religious Jain event held yearly at the center, where Tapascharyas -- the act of fasting for body, soul and heart purification -- is observed for a number of days.

During the eight day period, the boys drank only boiled water from sunrise to sunset, after which no food or water were allowed.

The boys also visited the temple and took part in prayer throughout the fast. Outside of their religious practice, Sahil and Sanil are also active in youth activities and attend Sunday classes for Jainism, language and cultural activities.

At the end of their fast on Sept. 2, friends and family visited the Doshi’s home in Cerritos to perform Varghodo an act of cheering, dancing and singing with religious music.

The celebration continued at the Buena Park temple with the entire Jain community. Here, everyone participated in Parna where each person offers a spoonful of special drink, mainly coconut juice and sweet water, to the members who took part in the fasting. 

The festivities were also attended by Buena Park Mayor Fred R. Smith.

It was indeed a time of joy and celebration to recognize the achievements of these young boys, who made their parents, Tejas and Pinkal Doshi and all their family and friends very proud.

- MarieSam Sanchez contributed to this report.