TULSA, OKLAHOMA
Mahavir Jayanti is the most memorable event celebrated in Tulsa. It involves all age groups participating in the 14 dreams of Queen Trishala. The earliest memory I have is going to the derasar and doing pooja while looking at the 14 dreams lying on a table. An uncle shouts out the bidding as the older children will read out the meaning of the dream and it's significance as the younger children present the dream. Once all the bidding is done, the dreams are raised with excitement. Afterwards, the celebration continues with handouts of prasad and lunch at a member’s home. The night ends with singing once again at the derasar.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Every year, The Jain Temple of Chicago celebrates Mahavir Jayanti with hundreds of people from around the region. The day starts out with lunch and a snatra puja in the derasar. In the main prayer hall, the youth have a yearly declamation contest (ranging in ages), which includes topics given by the Pathsala teachers. This year, the speeches start at 2:00pm and the puja at 12:30. This year, the youth have an opportunity to learn more about Mahavir Bhagwan in a lecture given at 9:00am followed by a few Pathsala teachers educating the youth how to do various pujas.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Mahavir Jayanti is a major event for the Jain Society of Detroit. Early in the morning, society members gather to do Snatra Puja followed by an Asthaprakari puja. Usual attendance is close to 1000. There is usually a Bhavna or a children's program afterwards to show the accomplishments of the Pathshala class. The evening ends with a group dinner.
NEW JERSEY
Jain Center of New Jersey, Essex Fells will be celebrating Mahavir Jayanti on April 20, 2003. The day will begin with a Snatra Pooja that is open to the sangh followed by a cultural program. The cultural program will entail 8 cultural items including a Vardhodo in which all Pathsala students take part in, and other dances and plays that depict and celebrate Bhaghvan Mahavir. Following the cultural program will be Sadharmic Vatsalya, where the entire sangh will share in a Jain meal.
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU), NYC, NEW YORK
The Jain Students Association (JSA) at New York University recently held their first annual "Mahavir Jayanti Celebration." It was great evening celebrating the birth of Mahavir, through a gathering of about 15 NYU students. The event started with a tasty Jain Vegan dinner. During the meal, the JSA-exec board orally read their favorite Mahavir stories. They included Chandanbala, Chandakaushik, and the story of the goat herder. After reading the stories, they held a discussion on the relevance and importance of each story. Every story they presented showcased a different aspect of Mahavirswami's teachings. Everybody had an awesome time and left with knowledge they could apply within their lives.

NYC, NEW YORK
Mahavir Jayanti is done on a large scale in New York because of the amount of families that are present in the area. This year, as most years, the day will start out with a puja in the temple in the morning. Then, the afternoon will consist of a very big show with performances by the young children. In between the performances, there are dignitaries and notable public figures that make speeches and are honored for all the work that they do. After the show, there is a big dinner where everyone can meet each other families that are apart of the center.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Every year, close to 300 families gather to celebrate one of the most important functions of the year, Mahavir Jayanti. Throughout the week, there are lectures on Jainism. At the end of the week on Saturday, a Snatra Puja is performed. On Sunday, Pathshala students of a variety of ages put on a program including skits and dances. The evening is concluded with dinner for the entire sangh.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Although our Jain Sangh has only about thirty families, we still celebrate Mahavir Jayanti with a great deal of passion. Mahavir Jayanti has special meaning for all of us as the Prathista Mahotsav to celebrate the opening of the first derasar in Wisconsin was held at this time in the year 2000. Focusing our efforts so that each family can participate, Mahavir Jayanti brings us all together to commemorate the birth of Lord Mahavir. Everyone takes part in the various pujas that are performed, especially the youth. Each ceremony is explained in both English and Gujarati so all participants, young and old, garner the true meaning of the event. The youth are particularly encouraged by the adults to learn what is happening so as to ensure that they get the full effect of the occasion; our parents want us to know what the important functions are, as they want us to be able to pass on these rituals to our children. After our spiritually enlivening experience at derasar, we gather together to watch a drama put on by local members of our Jain community. We use this time to reinforce our religious conviction and to come together as a sangh. It is truly a wonderful experience.
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Mahavir Jayanti is an important event and it is celebrated on a large scale at the Jain Society of Houston. Each year, Mahavir Jayanti attracts hundreds of people to join the celebrations. The Sangh comes together to celebrate this day with cultural programs. Pathshala students led by their teachers usually take an active part by performing on religious skits, dances, and other presentations. Annual elections for the temple's executive committee, Board of Trustees, along with youth elections take place. A General Body Meeting is also called to order to approve administrative tasks and discuss proposals for the future of the sangh. A bhavna with the recitation of several stavans, followed by Aarti and Mangal Divo, and a Sangh Jaman culminates the activities for the day.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
In Austin, the Austin Jain Parivar holds regular meetings, and due to its relatively small membership, the meetings are hosted at different residences around the city. The Mahavir Jayanti program was held at a residence in Northwest Austin on Sunday, April 6, 2003. The program started at 4pm with two lectures from the Houston Samanijis. They discussed the reason behind celebrating Lord Mahavir’s birthday. The second lecture was done mainly in English because the University Jain Society (UJS) from University of Texas at Austin also came to join the program. Following the lectures, a few announcements were given about future Jain programs and details about the following night’s UJS Samaniji program on campus. Afterwards, all the families attending the program provided a potluck dinner. Everyone gathered in the backyard to eat and talk in the nice weather, while the small kids were playing and running around.
DALLAS, TEXAS
In Dallas, the Mahavir Jayanti celebration every year follows a set program. First, the day starts with a Mahavir Jayanti puja that combines both Swetambar and Digambar traditions. Following the puja, is a series of presentations by students of the three different Pathshala classes. The youngest students from ages 5-10 present the dreams of Queen Trishala and their meaning and relevance to the qualities that Mahavir Bhagwan inherited in his life. Next, students between the ages of 11-13 present various topics in Jainism such as Ahimsa, vegetarianism, avoidance of leather and silk, and other topics relating to applying Jainism in our daily lives. Finally the oldest group, ages 14-18, present a history of the life of Mahavir Bhagwan. After the student presentations, the ceremonies culminate in Aarti. Then, lunch is provided to all of the participants who attend the Mahavir Jayanti celebration.