Next: about 20 Apr 2027
Mahavir Jayanti
The birthday of Mahavira, the last Jain teacher: processions, temple bathing and acts of charity.
When is Mahavir Jayanti in 2027?
Mahavir Jayanti 2027 is on Tuesday, 20 April 2027. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2028, Saturday, 8 April 2028.
About Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti commemorates the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of Jainism, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of Chaitra. Jains visit temples, where the image of Mahavira is given a ritual bath, the abhisheka, with milk and water, and carry it through the streets in a decorated chariot in a rath yatra. Lectures on his teachings of non-violence, truth and non-attachment are held. It is a day for charity: donating food, clothes and money to the needy and freeing caged birds or animals. Many Jains fast and eat only vegetarian food without root vegetables, in keeping with ahimsa. Shops and slaughterhouses are closed in several states.
Mahavir Jayanti dates: 2027, 2028
| Year | Mahavir Jayanti date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Tuesday, 20 April 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, 8 April 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is eaten
- plain vegetarian food
- fruit
Traditions of Mahavir Jayanti
Also part of it, and being written: Mahavira (The teacher whose birth is marked.), Abhisheka (The ritual bathing of the image.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Mahavir Jayanti" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Ahimsa: Jain cloud, CC BY-SA 4.0, source