Mahavir Jayanti is the biggest Jain festival celebrated in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira. Mahavira is believed to be the son of Siddhartha and Trisala. His birth year however is a matter of controversy between the two sects of Jainism. Digambaras believe it to be 615 BC while Swetambaras believe that Mahavira was born in 599 BC.

According to the legend, He was conceived by a Brahmin called Rishabhdeva's wife, Devananda, which was transferred as an embryo to the womb of Trisala by Gods. The expectant mother was believed to have seen 14 auspicious dreams (according to Swetambara sect) or 16 dreams (according to Digambara sect). Astrologers interpreted them to predict that the child would be either a mighty emperor or the 24th Tirthankar. Queen Trishala is believed to have felt no pain associated with childbirth.

Jains visit the sacred sites and go on pilgrimages to holy places on this day and worship Teerthankars. The Mahavir Jayanthi celebration in Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, the ancient shrines at Girnar and Palitana; in Calcutta, the Parasnath temple; and at Pawapuri in Bihar holds a special significance. Mahavir was believed to be born at Kshatriyakund near modern Patna in Bihar to the religious king and queen and led the humanity to the path of true happiness. The auspicious occasion falls on the first day of Bhadrapad (according to the Hindu calenda) and a grand cradle procession is taken out on the streets on this day and there is a general celebration of the auspicious day. It is believed that Mahavira was born at four in the morning, a very auspicious time in Jainism and Hinduism and that at that exact moment, all life forms in all the three worlds were content and cheerful.

Mahavir Jayanti in Delhi is the most important and popular festival of the Jain community. Mahavir Jayanti celebrated with a lot of traditional fervor in Delhi.