Mahavir Jayanti: April 5
Mahavira Jayanti is a religious observance for followers of the Jain religion.
Followers of Jainism in India celebrate the birth of Mahavir Jayanti (alternate name, Vardhamana) who set the doctrines and lay the foundation of Jainism. Mahavir Jayanti is considered to be the most important religious holiday among Jains, the name used to refer to the followers of Jainism.
History of Mahavir Jayanti
In Jainism, Mahavira was considered to be the last Tirthankar or the last human to achieve spiritual renewal and enlightenment. He has successfully achieved spiritual purity through an ardent practice of asceticism, abstaining from earthly pleasures and worries for the purpose of attaining absolute spiritual renewal. It is believed that he was born between 599 BC and 615 BC on the 13th day of the rising of the moon on the month called Chaitra. Chaitra is the first month in the Calendar of the Hindus. In the Gregorian Calendar, Chaitra falls on March or April. According to Hindu belief, this month marks the beginning of the creation of the universe.
Mahavir Jayanti: Traditions, Customs and Activities
During the holiday, the temples of Mahavira are decorated with flags. Jains also conduct the traditional ceremonial bath called abhishek to the images of Mahavira in the morning before street procession starts. The procession is usually participated by a great number of people living within the perimeter of the temples. Since the practice of Mahavir Jayanti religion calls for the care for the poor and releasing all forms of inclination to earthly desires, its followers usually engage in charity as an adherence to its teachings. Middle-class and affluent followers offer gifts to the poor such as fruit, rice, milk, water and incense. The Mahavir Jayanti chiefs also organize lectures during this day and may read to its followers a compendium of doctrines making up the principles of their faith which is usually preceded by prayers and meditation in the temples. The temples in the popular Jain temples in India (pawapuri, Parsvanath, and Kundalpur) are filled with devotees coming from different regions in India and other countries. Pilgrims may also visit Jain temples at Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, and Calcutta.
