Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak, is a major Jain festival and will be celebrated today, March 31, 2026. Schools, banks, post offices and government offices are expected to remain closed for the festival.
As this is a public holiday, most schools, colleges and government institutions will observe the day off.
Mahavir Jayanti 2026: Are Schools Open Today?
Schools in several states, including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, are expected to remain closed on Mahavir Jayanti. According to a report in The Times of India, Indore Collector Shivam Verma has declared Monday a public holiday in the district.
All government offices and institutions will be closed for the day and resume normal operations on Tuesday, March 31.
Several district administrations in Madhya Pradesh revised the Mahavir Jayanti public holiday and shifted it to Monday 30 March 2026 instead of the earlier date of Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Similarly, the Karnataka government has advanced the holiday by a day. According to an official notification issued on Thursday, Mahavir Jayanti, originally set for March 31, will now be observed on Monday, March 30.
Are banks open or closed today on Mahavir Jayanti 2026?
Banks and post offices are expected to remain closed on 31 March 2026 on Mahavir Jayanti in several major cities, including:
Mumbai, Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Mahavir Jayanti is much more than a birthday celebration; it is a profound reminder of the life and universal philosophy of the Jain leader.
He was instrumental in reviving and organizing the Jain philosophical system, teaching that true victory comes from conquering one’s inner desires, ego and senses, earning him the title of Mahavira (Great Hero) and Jina (Conqueror).
