As per the Hindu calendar, the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira (Mahavir Jayanti) is celebrated in which month?

Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, is celebrated on the 13th day of the bright half (Shukla Trayodashi) of the month of Chaitra. This usually falls in March or April.

According to Jain tradition, Mahavira was born as Vardhamana in Kundagrama, near Vaishali in present-day Bihar. His father, Siddhartha, was a chief of the Jnatrika clan, and his mother was Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess. At the age of 30, he gave up his home and family and became an ascetic. After 12 years of deep meditation and penance, he attained kevala jnana (supreme knowledge) under a sal tree on the banks of the river Rijupalika. He spent the next 30 years teaching, and he attained nirvana at the age of 72 at Pawapuri, in present-day Bihar.

Mahavira taught the five great vows (mahavratas): ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), aparigraha (non-possession) and brahmacharya (celibacy). He also emphasised the "three jewels" (triratna) of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.

On Mahavir Jayanti, Jains visit temples, perform the ritual bathing (abhisheka) of images of Mahavira, and take out processions (rath yatras) with his image. They give charity, feed the poor, and listen to sermons on his teachings. Celebrations are especially grand at Jain centres such as Pawapuri, Vaishali, Girnar, Palitana and Shravanabelagola.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kartika is the month of Diwali, when Jains celebrate the nirvana of Mahavira at Pawapuri.
• ✗Bhadrapada is the month of Paryushana, the most important Jain festival of fasting and forgiveness.
• ✗Shravana is the month of festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Nag Panchami.