Wed Apr 1, 2026 | Updated 12:38 PM IST HZ Awards 2026
Mahavir Jayanti, sometimes called Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak, stands as one of the most significant dates in the Jain calendar. It marks the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and final Tirthankara. Also known by his birth name, Vardhamana, Lord Mahavir laid down the core principles of Jainism, teachings that continue to guide millions of people around the world today. Naturally, the day sees widespread celebrations across Jain communities in India, Nepal, the UK, and the US.
If you are wondering exactly when the festival falls this year and whether you get a day off, here is everything you need to know.
The confusion around the exact date usually happens because the festival follows the lunar calendar. Lord Mahavir was born on the Trayodashi Tithi during the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month. On the standard Gregorian calendar, this translates to the 13th day of the rising moon across March and April, which means the date shifts every year.
This year marks the 2624th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir. Officially, Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. However, if you follow the strict timing rules according to drikpanchang.com, the Trayodashi tithi actually kicks off at 07:09 am on Monday, March 30, and wraps up at 06:55 am on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Because of the overlapping tithi timings, the public holiday schedule is a bit of a mixed bag this year depending on where you live.
In places like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, schools and government offices are generally expected to remain closed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. However, several local administrations have mixed things up. For example, Indore Collector Shivam Verma announced that the district will observe the public holiday on Monday, March 30, 2026, with regular operations resuming on Tuesday. Following suit, several other district administrations across Madhya Pradesh have also revised their schedules, moving the official holiday to Monday, March 30, 2026.
Down south, the Karnataka government also issued an official notification advancing the public holiday by a day. So, rather than the originally planned Tuesday, the state will observe Mahavir Jayanti on Monday, March 30, 2026.
While state governments might shuffle their local holidays, banks typically stick to the Reserve Bank of India's holiday list. In several states, banks and post offices will officially shut their doors for Mahavir Jayanti on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
If you live in any of the following key cities, expect your local bank branches to be closed on the 31st:
To understand the holiday, we have to look back to 599 BC. Vardhamana was born into royalty, the son of Queen Trishala and King Siddhartha in Kundagram (which is in modern-day Bihar). Eventually earning the title 'Mahavira', which translates to 'the great hero', he made the massive decision to walk away from his royal life and all worldly comforts.
His goal was to achieve Kevala Jnana, or supreme spiritual knowledge. After his awakening, he spent the next 30 years travelling barefoot across India to teach his core philosophy. These teachings, Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), and Aparigraha (non-attachment), became the absolute foundation of Jainism. Today, followers honour his legacy by visiting temples, meditating, reading scriptures, and participating in charitable acts.
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