Warmest Mahavir Jayanti greetings from US President Biden to Jain community

April 22 :
The famed Jain founder Mahavira was born on Mahavir Jayanti, and US President Joe Biden sent sincere condolences to the Jain community on this auspicious day.

President and First Lady Biden wished everyone a happy Mahavir Jayanti in a message posted on X. . "Jill and I wish a joyous Mahavir Jayanti to people of the Jain faith," said Biden. Love, joy, and harmony should be embraced by all on this auspicious occasion, he said, stressing the everlasting importance of Mahavira's teachings.

The first sitting president of the United States to formally recognise Mahavir Jayanti is Joe Biden.April 21st is the date of this year's celebration. More than 150,000 Jain people call the US home; they make up a third of the world's Jain diaspora, thus it's meaningful to them.

The history of Jain people in the United States begins in the twentieth century. Nevertheless, Virachand Gandhi was the first Jain delegate to attend the first-ever United States Parliament of World Religions in 1893.

There is a strong Jain presence in the United States, since the country now has more Jain temples than any other country outside of India. Representing the unity and strength of the Jain community in the United States, the Federation of Jain Associations of North America acts as the umbrella organisation.