Mahavir Jayanti in India in 2022

Mahavir Jayanti in 2022 is on the Thursday, 02nd of April (02/04/2022).

The holiday is much popular near the modern town of Patna in the state of Bihar, where Mahavir was born. Mahavir abandoned all worldly possessions when he was just 30 years of age and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening and became an ascetic. Purification of soul was the supreme goal of his life. The word Jain is derived from the Hindi language word "Jina" means conqueror. The followers of Tirthankaras are aspired to conquer their inner enemies, therefore, they are called as Jains. Mahavira, who was the 24th and last Tirthankara (Jina) & his followers also came to be known as Jains.Jains describe Karma as particles that pollute the soul. According to them, in order to attain moksha, each soul must do its own effort to cleanse off these karma particles and purify it.

In India, Mahavir Jayanti is a gazetted holiday. Government offices and most businesses remain closed this day. It is a day off in general and schools also remain closed on Mahavir Jayanti.

This day is celebrated with great amount of joy which is comprised of religious processions, prayers and teachings. Jain temples are decorated nicely and devotees visit temples to meditate and offer prayers. Rathyatra (Religious procession) is carried out, in which idol of Mahavir is carried out on a chariot) on Mahavir Jayanti. Statues of Mahavir are given a ceremonial anointment called the abhisheka.

List of Holidays in India in 2022