Mahavir Jayanti celebrated at Sri Khandelwal Digamber Jain Temple, Wilson Garden

Bangalore, 13 April 2014: The Khandelwal Digamber Jain Samaj, Wilson Garden today celebrated Mahavir Jayanthi, the 2613th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and the last Thirthankara of the jains and the founder of Jainism at the Wilson Garden Digamber Jain Temple. Mahavir Jayanti, one of the most important religious festivals of the Jain community, is celebrated across the world to commemorate the birth and philosophy of Lord Mahavira.

A massive rally with all grandeur and royal decoration was organised on this auspicious day at Wilson Garden. Thousands of devotees participated in the rally. The day started with a Mahamastabhisek of Lord Mahavira and a special puja. The day includes prayers, temples decoration, abhishek, processions, lectures, meditations, temple visits, etc. It is a day full of celebrations as rituals are all performed in temples followed by various cultural programmes in the evening.

To spread awareness on the ideologies of Mahavira, devotees also carried banners which had thoughts and messages from the Lord.  The procession had troupes performing dances in their traditional attire. Devotees were also seen dancing and celebrating around the music bands.

The main motto of the celebrations was 'live and let live.' In these days of widespread violence in all walks of life, the teaching of Ahimsa of Lord Mahavira was quite relevant and was a useful advice for the people.
 
To this day, Jains of all sub-sects treasure the 'panch mahavrat’, or the five essential guidelines to be followed in daily life, which include avoiding harm to creatures, speaking the truth and aspiring to have an unblemished character.