Jains celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, Pranab Mukherjee greets people on Mahavir Jayanti

NEW DELHI: Particularly, Jains celebrate Mahavir Jayanti on April 20 every year in the Hindi month of Chaitra. This auspicious day marks the birth anniversary of Sage Mahavir, who was the founder of Jainism. Sage Mahavir is also known as Vardhamana Mahavira and Jains celebrate this festival with lot of zeal and enthusiasm Devotees carry out procession along with the idol of Mahavir. They keep a programme for Mahavir Jayanti as a various slogans and bhajans . Further they also conduct ceremonial bath which is also known as abhisheka. According to Jain mythology, it is believed that Sage Mahavira was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half moon day in the month of Chaitra in the year 599 BCE. President Pranab Mukherjee greeted people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. He said, ‘’this festival inspires everyone to adopt non-violence in their thought and life. Bhagwan Mahavir teaches us to follow the Satya aur Ahinsa. We should follow the thought of Bhagwan Mahavir’’. "May this festival inspire all of us to adopt non-violence in our thought and life," he said in a message. The President extended his greetings and good wishes to all citizens in India and abroad.