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Jains Celebrate Mahavir Nirvana Mahotsav with Prayers and Offerings
22 Oct
Summary
- Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, attained 'Moksh' 2,552 years ago
- Devotees offer 'Nirvana laadoo' as a symbol of eternity and completeness of his salvation
- Temples in Lucknow perform 'abhishek' rituals and light lamps to mark the occasion
On October 22, 2025, Jains in Lucknow celebrated the Mahavir Nirvana Mahotsav, marking the 2,552nd anniversary of Lord Mahavir Swami's attainment of 'Moksh' (salvation). Mahavir Swami was the 24th and final Tirthankara of Jainism, and he is believed to have renounced his physical body on this day.
At the Neminath Digambar Jain temple in Chowk, devotees gathered for the 'abhishek' ritual, where Lord Mahavir's idol was bathed in sandalwood and saffron water, followed by the offering of a coconut laddoo. In the evening, the temple was illuminated with lamps as the community celebrated the occasion with joy and prayers for their own salvation.
Similar rituals and festivities were observed at other Jain temples in Lucknow, such as the Jain Dadabari temple in Thakurganj, where devotees recited sacred texts and offered laddoos. Chitra Jain, a visitor to the Neminath Digambar temple, likened the Mahavir Nirvana Mahotsav to the Hindu festival of Diwali, as it is a time for Jains to celebrate and pray for their own spiritual enlightenment.
