When Hanuman Jayanti falls

Dates are computed astronomically against Kashi sunrise.

The significance of Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti puja vidhi

1. 1Clean the space and place an image of Hanuman, ideally facing him toward an image of Rama.
2. 2Light a lamp of chameli or til oil and offer red flowers, especially marigold and moli thread.
3. 3Apply sindoor to Hanuman — the offering he is said to love most, recalling how he smeared it over his body for Sita's long-married life.
4. 4Offer a bhog of laddu, boondi or besan, and a paan.
5. 5Read the Hanuman Chalisa, then the Bajrang Baan or Sundarkanda; close with aarti.
6. 6Give the prasad to all, and do some act of service — feeding, cleaning, or helping — in his name.

Mantra

Vrat rules

• Rise before dawn, bathe, and begin with the sankalpa to keep the day in Hanuman's name.
• The fast is usually phalahar — fruit, milk and a single satvik meal; grains and salt are avoided by many.
• The Hanuman Chalisa is read, often forty times, and the Sundarkanda is recited or heard.
• Sindoor mixed with chameli (jasmine) oil is offered to the murti, and a red flag or bunting is common.
• Celibacy, truthful speech and physical service (shram-daan) are kept through the day.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a single date — Hanuman Jayanti falls on Chaitra Purnima in the north but on other days in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Bringing non-vegetarian food, onion or garlic near the worship, or breaking brahmacharya on the vrat day.
• Using ordinary red powder instead of sindoor mixed with chameli (jasmine) oil, the offering Hanuman is said to love.
• Reading the Chalisa carelessly or in haste rather than with attention — the day is about devotion in effort.

The vrat katha of Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti timeline

1. Pre-dawn

   Devotees bathe and begin with the Hanuman Chalisa; many keep a phalahar fast for the day.

2. Sunrise — the birth

   In the northern tradition Hanuman's birth is marked at sunrise on the Chaitra Purnima; the murti receives the sindoor-chola.

3. Through the day

   The Chalisa is read forty times, the Sundarkanda and Bajrang Baan recited; Hanuman temples hold continuous kirtan.

4. Aarti & prasad

   Laddu, boondi and paan are offered and shared; an act of seva in Hanuman's name closes the day.

Famous places & temples

Interesting facts

• ◆Hanuman's birthday is kept on different days across India — Chaitra Purnima in the north, Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi in parts of the west, and a Margashirsha day in Tamil Nadu.
• ◆He is one of the chiranjivi, the immortals held to be still present wherever the Ramayana is recited.
• ◆The sindoor offering comes from the story of Hanuman smearing his whole body with it on seeing Sita apply it for Rama's long life.
• ◆Panchmukhi (five-faced) Hanuman, worshipped in some temples, unites the faces of Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha and Hayagriva.

Common questions