Mahavira Jayanti is a Jain festival that occurs every year in March or April. It is one of the two most important Jain festivals, the other being Paryusana.
Mahavira Jayanti celebrates the birthday of Mahavira, the last of the 24 great teachers, known as Tirthankaras, recognized by Jains. Mahavira was born in the 500’s B.C. The Jains believe that there are five holy occasions, called kalyanas, in a Tirthankara’s life. These are (1) the descent into the mother’s womb, (2) birth, (3) renunciation of worldly life, (4) enlightenment, and (5) death. Mahavira Jayanti celebrates the first two of these kalyanas in particular. During the festival, the Jains may hold a procession, in which they carry representations of events in Mahavira’s life through the streets. They may also read from the Kalpa Sutra, a Jain book that records the lives of the Tirthankaras.
