Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the great devotee of Rama and one of the most beloved figures of the Ramayana tradition. Popular accounts describe him as the son of Anjana and Kesari, with Vayu, the wind deity, playing a divine role in his birth; this is why Hanuman is also called Pavanputra. Stories of his childhood portray extraordinary strength and fearless energy, including the famous episode in which the young Hanuman leapt toward the rising sun, mistaking it for a fruit. His mature life is defined not by strength alone but by disciplined devotion: he finds Sita in Lanka, carries Rama's message, helps the vanara army cross impossible obstacles and brings the life-saving mountain when Lakshmana is wounded. Hanuman Jayanti therefore honours courage joined with humility, intelligence and selfless service. Devotees recite Hanuman Chalisa, Sundarkand or Ramayana passages, visit temples, offer sindoor and pray for strength, protection and steadfast devotion.

Hanuman Jayanti is valued for devotion, family tradition and the spiritual or seasonal meaning attached to the day.

The Chalisa is read, often forty times through. Sindur mixed with oil is put on the image, and boondi laddu is offered. Many temples begin before dawn, at the hour the birth is held to have happened, and keep the doors open all day.

The date itself is regional: Chaitra Purnima across the north and Gujarat, but Margashirsha in Tamil Nadu and Vaishakh vad in parts of the Deccan. Maharashtra reads the Ramayana at dawn to the moment of sunrise; Andhra keeps a forty-one day observance ending at Hanuman Jayanti in Jyeshtha.