Also known as: Hanuman Janmotsav, Anjaneya Jayanti, Hanumath Jayanthi · Observed: North and Central India on Chaitra Purnima; other regions on different dates
Significance of Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the devoted servant of Lord Rama and one of the most widely worshipped figures in Hinduism. He is honoured as a model of strength joined with humility, learning joined with devotion, and courage placed wholly in the service of dharma. He is counted among the chiranjivis, the immortals who remain on earth, and devotees believe he is present wherever the name of Rama is sung. Students pray to him for intelligence and concentration, wrestlers and athletes for strength, and those facing fear or illness for protection.
The Legend of Hanuman's Birth
Hanuman was born to Anjana, an apsara living as a vanara woman because of a curse, and Kesari, a vanara chief. Through the blessing of Vayu, the wind god, he is called Pavanaputra and Maruti. Many traditions also regard him as an incarnation or portion of Lord Shiva, born to assist Vishnu's avatara as Rama. A well-known story tells how the infant Hanuman, seeing the rising Sun, mistook it for a ripe fruit and leapt into the sky to seize it. Indra struck him with the vajra, injuring his jaw (hanu), which gave him his name. When Vayu withdrew the air from the world in grief, the gods restored the child and showered him with boons of strength, wisdom and immortality. Later, as minister to Sugriva, Hanuman met Rama, crossed the ocean to find Sita in Lanka, and brought the Sanjivani herb to revive Lakshmana.
How Hanuman Jayanti Is Celebrated
Temples open before dawn, since tradition holds Hanuman was born around sunrise. Devotees bathe the image, anoint it with sindoor mixed with jasmine oil or ghee, and offer garlands of betel leaves, red flowers and sometimes vadas. The Hanuman Chalisa is recited in homes and temples, often a hundred and eight times, along with the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana. Many people fast, and in North India large community feasts (bhandaras) are held. Offerings of boondi laddu, besan laddu, gur-chana (jaggery and roasted gram) and bananas are common, and wrestling akharas honour Hanuman as their patron.
Regional Dates
The date varies by region. North and Central India observe Hanuman Jayanti on Chaitra Purnima, and this is the date shown on this site. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the main observance is on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami, concluding a forty-one day deeksha that begins on Chaitra Purnima. Tamil Nadu and Kerala celebrate Hanumath Jayanthi in the month of Margazhi, on the new moon associated with Moola nakshatra. In Karnataka, Hanuman Vratam is kept on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi, and in Odisha the birth is celebrated on Pana Sankranti, the solar new year. Some traditions, including in Ayodhya, also honour Hanuman on Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi just before Diwali. All of these are valid within their own lineages.
How the Date Is Determined
In the North Indian reckoning used here, Hanuman Jayanti is the Purnima (full moon) tithi of Chaitra. The festival is kept on the day when the full moon tithi prevails at sunrise, matching the belief in a dawn birth. When Purnima begins after sunrise on one day and ends before sunrise the next, almanacs choose the day according to their regional rules.
Rituals and customs
- Early morning temple visit at sunrise
- Offering sindoor with jasmine oil
- Recitation of Hanuman Chalisa and Sundara Kanda
- Betel leaf and vada garlands
- Distributing boondi laddu and gur-chana
- Fasting until evening