How to use/handle a loader in an MVC app?

How to use/handle a loader in an MVC app?

in a ASP.NET MVC application that I am currently working there are
multiple places in a single page that the user can click. So there is a
main menu that's in _layout and for each inidividual page there can be
links associated with that page. I am trying to use a loader which will be
shown on every click, mainly where the response takes time but for now
it's for every click. For example in the home page, from the main menu the
user can click Students and the loader should come up and hide when the
page loads completely. On the students page there can be an ajax call that
gets data and binds it to the grid. So from the time the user clicks on a
menu link and the page loads the loader is active/shown. It's hidden once
the page loads completely. The grid can have editing functionality and
when the user clicks on any of the CRUD links the loader should show and
hide.
I am looking at suggestions on implementing this requirement. If I can
hookup any of the MVC events, that would be cool as I want less of
Javascript/jQuery stuff but if Javascript/jQuery is the way then that's
fine too.
Currently I don't have anything so anypointers are appreciated.