Festivals in India- Mahavir Jayanti

Mahavir Jayanti is viewed as the significant festival of Jain and is celebrated in India commemorating the Lord Mahavira’s birth anniversary.

This festival is celebrated by both the sects, Digambaras and Swetambaras.

The Jain community celebrated Mahavir Jayanti as a very auspicious day with chariot processions and images of Mahavira taken in rich ceremonies.

The temples hold fasts and lots of charities are observed. Many religious events are as well a part of this day.

Visiting thee sacred sites and the Teerthankars worship is observed strictly on this day. This event holds significance in Rajasthan and Gujarat owing to the ancient Girnar and Palitana shrines.

This festival is celebrated in Kolkata with fervor at Parasnath temple and the Mahavir Jayanti in Bihar also holds a great significance.

Lord Mahavir had his own teachings and philosophies to teach the human beings the path of happiness.

The teachings on non-violence and the significance of austerity showed the path to accomplish spirituality and salvation. Jainism this term was acquired form Jina meaning the conqueror.

The Jains rely on three fold path such as right faith, right conduct and right knowledge. Mahavir Jayanti is the founder of the Jain religion and being his birthday, this day is prominent as Mahavir Jayanti.

Mahavir Jayanti was born in the month of Chaitra in 599 BC or 615 BC. They teach in taking responsibility towards their action and also in comprehending the karma theory.

The followers are taught to live an austere life and in the clearing debt towards mankind as well attaining the salvation form.

The devout followers in the Jain religion never harm a fly also and strict followers in fact, cover their mouth using a tiny cloth to avert any possibility of even killing germs while breathing.

Jains are of two sects and the Shwetambara Jains are the group of people wearing plain white clothes and the Digambara Jains are the group of people practicing ascetism by not wearing clothes on the bodies.

The followers adhere to the Mahavira teachings. Mahavira included fasts that were rigorous and had to be followed for many days. The absolute truthfulness, honesty and chastity were the principle way of living life of Mahavira.

Hence, Jains followers of Mahavira travel to various shrines and celebrate the Mahavira Jayanti in great fervor.

The majestic celebration can be viewed in temples with the decoration of flags to mark the birthday and each place holds traditional bath and the parades during this festival includes horse, drummers, singers, elephants and lamps.