Mahavir Jayanti 2026 today: Banks, schools, colleges, and government offices – what’s open and closed on March 31?
Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka revised the Mahavir Jayanti holiday to 30 March, instead of 31 March.
Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak, is a major Jain festival and will be celebrated today, 31 March. In observance of the festival, schools, banks, post offices, and government offices in many cities across the country will be closed today.
Being a gazetted public holiday, most schools, colleges, and government institutions will observe the day off.
Mahavir Jayanti 2026: Are schools open today?
On Mahavir Jayanti, schools in several states, including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, will be closed today. According to a report by The Times of India, Indore Collector Shivam Verma has announced a public holiday in the district on Monday.
All government offices and institutions will be closed for the day and resume normal operations on Tuesday, 31 March, he announced.
Several district administrations in Madhya Pradesh revised the Mahavir Jayanti public holiday, moving it to Monday, 30 March, instead of the earlier date of Tuesday, 31 March.
Similarly, the Karnataka government also advanced the holiday by a day. According to an official notification issued on Thursday, Mahavir Jayanti, originally set for 31 March, was observed on Monday, 30 March.
Are banks open or closed today on Mahavir Jayanti 2026?
Banks and post offices will be closed on Mahavir Jayanti, 31 March, in several major cities, including:
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Mumbai, Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
Hyderabad (Telangana)
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Patna (Bihar)
Ranchi (Jharkhand)
Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
Jaipur (Rajasthan)
New Delhi
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Mahavir Jayanti 2026: Significance
Mahavir Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism.
Trayodashi Tithi Begins: 07:09 AM, 30 March
Trayodashi Tithi Ends: 06:55 AM, 31 March
The festival honours his teachings of non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), non-possession (Aparigraha), and compassion toward all living beings. Devotees celebrate the day by visiting temples, offering prayers, participating in processions, and reflecting on Mahavir’s principles of moral and spiritual upliftment.
It is one of the most important festivals in Jainism and inspires followers to lead a life of peace, self-discipline, and righteousness.
He played a pivotal role in reviving and organising the Jain philosophical system, teaching that true victory comes from conquering one's own inner desires, ego, and senses, which earned him the title Mahavira (Great Hero) and Jina (Conqueror).
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