Hanuman Jayanti: Meaning and Celebration
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Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Hanuman. Devotees celebrate with prayer, recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa, temple visits and community feasts.
- What it celebrates
- The birth of Hanuman
- Most common date
- The full moon day of the month of Chaitra (spring), usually in March or April
- Other dates
- Some regions observe it in other months (see below)
- Typical rituals
- Early bath, prayer, Hanuman Chalisa or Sundara Kanda path, sindoor and flower offerings, prasad
When is Hanuman Jayanti?
In most of North India and much of the country, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Chaitra Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Because the Hindu calendar follows the moon, the date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, so please check a local panchang for the exact day.
Some regions follow other traditions. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it is observed in the month of Margashirsha, in Karnataka on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi, and in Odisha around the Sankranti of mid-April. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a longer observance runs from Chaitra Purnima into the following weeks. Dates and customs vary, so follow your local tradition.
How devotees celebrate
- Wake early, bathe and clean the prayer space.
- Offer sindoor, flowers, a lamp and a simple sweet to Hanuman's image.
- Recite the Hanuman Chalisa, the Sundara Kanda or the Ramayana.
- Visit a Hanuman temple, where special worship and processions are held.
- Share prasad and food with neighbours and those in need.
Fasting
Some devotees fast on Hanuman Jayanti and break the fast after evening prayer. Fasting is a personal choice, and those with health concerns should follow their own needs.
Learn about the birth of Hanuman, his worship and temples, or return to the Hanuman ji guide.
A note on sources: the story of Hanuman is told in the Valmiki Ramayana (Sanskrit), Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas (Awadhi), the Mahabharata, the Puranas and many regional retellings. The accounts agree on the main events but differ in details, so this guide says so wherever traditions differ.