Rama and Hanuman · Hanuman
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Hanuman, celebrated at sunrise with prayer, the Hanuman Chalisa and vermilion.
Also known as: Hanuman Janmotsav, Chaitra Purnima Hanuman Jayanti
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
In most of North India, on Chaitra Purnima, the full-moon day of the month of Chaitra, usually in April, with the main worship at sunrise. Other regions observe it on different dates: for example, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana keep it around Vaishakha Krishna Dashami, Karnataka in Margashirsha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the month of Margazhi (Margashirsha, Dhanu), and Odisha at Vishuva Sankranti in mid-April.
About Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti is the day on which devotees celebrate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey-faced devotee of Rama, known for his strength, courage and loyalty. Temples open before dawn, as tradition says he was born at sunrise, and large crowds gather for darshan.
People wear a tilak of vermilion, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and Sundar Kand, offer sindoor, jasmine oil, flowers and laddu to the deity, and many hold a fast. In many places the day is also marked by processions and community meals, and by rest for those who work hard.
Significance
Hanuman is the model of selfless devotion. He is remembered not only for leaping across the ocean and carrying the mountain of herbs, but because he placed all his power at the service of Rama and never sought credit. For devotees he stands for humility joined with great strength.
He is traditionally invoked as a protector who is believed to remove fear and obstacles, and many people turn to him in difficult times. Because he is also seen as a celibate, a scholar of grammar and a master of the senses, wrestlers, students and those seeking discipline honour him as a guide.
Worship of Hanuman
- 1Rise before sunrise, bathe and wear clean clothes, preferably red or saffron. Take the sankalp to keep the fast.
- 2Clean the place of worship and set an image or idol of Hanuman, and if possible Rama and Sita beside him.
- 3Light a lamp (a sesame oil or ghee lamp) and incense, and invoke Ganesha first.
- 4Offer a tilak of sindoor mixed with jasmine oil, along with red flowers, a garland, rice, and betel leaf. Women traditionally do not touch the idol in some temples, a custom that varies from place to place.
- 5Recite the Hanuman Chalisa, the Sundar Kand or the Bajrang Baan, and chant "Om Hanumate Namah" or "Jai Shri Ram".
- 6Offer laddu, boondi, jaggery and chana, bananas or a sweet churma as bhog, and perform the aarti at sunrise.
- 7Share the prasad, give food or charity to the needy, and break the fast in the evening with sattvic food.
The story
Hanuman is described as the son of the wind god Vayu and Anjana, a celestial being born as a vanara, which is why he is also called Anjaneya and Pavanputra. As a child, so the tale goes, he mistook the rising sun for a ripe fruit and leapt skyward to seize it, a story that explains his enormous strength.
In the Ramayana, he crosses the sea to find Sita in Lanka, burns the city with his lit tail, and later brings the Sanjeevani mountain to revive the wounded Lakshmana. The Ramayana traditions also tell of his meeting with Rama at Kishkindha, which began a lifelong devotion.
What to do
- ✓Visit a Hanuman temple at sunrise if you can.
- ✓Recite the Hanuman Chalisa with a calm mind.
- ✓Offer sindoor, red flowers and laddu.
- ✓Keep the fast with sattvic food if you choose to.
- ✓Help the needy; feeding monkeys and cows is also customary.
What to avoid
- ✕Avoid onion, garlic, meat and alcohol on this day.
- ✕Do not use abusive words or show anger.
- ✕Do not offer anything impure or broken rice.
- ✕Avoid wearing black in worship if you can.
- ✕Do not harm monkeys or any animal.
Around the country
- North India: kept on Chaitra Purnima, with sunrise worship, Sundar Kand paths and processions, and large fairs at temples such as Salasar and Mehandipur in Rajasthan.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: a 41-day Hanuman Deeksha is observed, starting around Chaitra Purnima and ending on the Jayanti, which falls on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami.
- Karnataka: observed on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi as Hanumath Vrata, and the Anjanadri hill near Hampi is regarded by many as his birthplace.
- Tamil Nadu and Kerala: Hanumath Jayanthi is kept in the month of Margazhi, on the Amavasya, with garlands of vada offered to the deity.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there different dates for Hanuman Jayanti?
Different traditions and texts give different accounts of the day of his birth. North India follows Chaitra Purnima, while South Indian traditions follow other months. This page shows the Chaitra Purnima date.
Why is sindoor offered to Hanuman?
A popular folk story says that Hanuman once saw Sita applying sindoor for Rama's long life and covered himself in it out of devotion. So red sindoor with oil is offered to him.
What is the best time to worship on Hanuman Jayanti?
The morning, around sunrise, is preferred because he is believed to have been born then. The tithi and timings on this page are worked out for your city.