Hanuman Jayanti 2027हनुमान जयन्ती

When is Hanuman Jayanti?

Observed on Purnima of Chaitra. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Hanuman Jayanti means

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Shri Rama. In North and much of West India it falls on Chaitra Purnima, the full moon after Ram Navami; other regions keep it on other dates. Because Hanuman is a chiranjeevi — one who lives through the ages — many devotees prefer to call it Hanuman Janmotsav, the festival of his appearance, rather than a jayanti.

Hanuman stands for strength joined with humility, intelligence joined with devotion. He is worshipped to remove fear, illness and obstacles — Sankat Mochan, the one who frees from trouble — and as the model servant who did everything for Rama and nothing for himself.

On the day Hanuman temples open before dawn. Devotees offer sindoor mixed with oil (chola), red flowers and laddoos, recite the Hanuman Chalisa — often 11 or 108 times — and the Sundar Kand, and keep a fast.

The story of Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman's mother Anjana was an apsara born as a vanara because of a curse; his father was the vanara chief Kesari. Valmiki calls him the son of Vayu, the wind god, and many traditions also see him as born of a portion (ansh) of Shiva, who took this form to serve Vishnu as Rama.

As a child he saw the rising sun and, thinking it a ripe fruit, leapt into the sky to seize it. Indra struck him with his vajra and he fell, wounded on the jaw (hanu) — which, Valmiki says, is how he got his name. Vayu in grief withdrew the air from the world until the gods revived the child and each gave him a boon: freedom from harm by weapons, fire and water, and the power to change his form at will.

Because the young Hanuman troubled the sages with his pranks, they cursed him to forget his powers until he was reminded of them. Years later, on the shore of the ocean, Jambavan reminded him, and Hanuman leapt across to Lanka to find Sita — the story told in the Sundar Kand.

Hanuman Jayanti puja vidhi, step by step

A simple Hanuman Jayanti puja for home or temple. Traditions differ on details — some offer only at the temple, some keep a nirjala fast — so follow your family's custom.

What you need

• An image or murti of Hanuman, and a picture of Shri Rama (Hanuman is always worshipped with Rama)
• Sindoor mixed with jasmine or sesame oil (chola) for the murti, if your tradition offers it
• Red flowers (hibiscus), a garland, tulsi leaves for Rama, roli and akshat
• A ghee or mustard-oil diya and incense
• Naivedya: boondi or besan laddoos, bananas, jaggery and roasted chana
• The Hanuman Chalisa, Sankat Mochan Hanumanashtak or Sundar Kand for reading

When to do the puja

In the North Indian tradition the festival is kept on Chaitra Purnima, and many temples hold the janmotsav at sunrise, the hour of Hanuman's birth in popular belief. In 2027 it falls on 20 April. Check the Panchang for when Purnima begins and ends in your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Before sunrise. Bathe early and take a sankalp for the vrat. Many devotees keep a fast until evening or eat only fruit.
2. Worship Rama first. Offer a flower and tulsi to Shri Rama — Hanuman is pleased most by worship of his Lord.
3. Worship Hanuman. Offer water, sindoor-chola (at temples or where the tradition allows), red flowers, a garland and a diya. Chant 'Om Ham Hanumate Namah'.
4. Recitation. Read the Hanuman Chalisa — 1, 7, 11 or 108 times — then the Sankat Mochan Hanumanashtak, and the Sundar Kand if you have time.
5. Naivedya and aarti. Offer laddoos, bananas and jaggery-chana, sing the aarti 'Aarti kije Hanuman Lala ki', and distribute prasad.
6. Seva. Hanuman is the model of service: feed the hungry, help someone in difficulty, or give to a gaushala on this day.

Offerings & food: Boondi laddoo, besan laddoo, bananas, jaggery, chana

Mantras for Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti across India

In South India, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on different dates — Margashirsha Amavasya in Tamil Nadu, Vaishakh Krishna Dashami in Telugu states. North and West India observe Chaitra Purnima.

North and West India

Chaitra Purnima is Hanuman Jayanti. Temples such as Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya, Sankat Mochan in Varanasi, Mahavir Mandir in Patna, Mehandipur Balaji and Salasar Balaji in Rajasthan draw huge crowds from before dawn.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

A 41-day Hanuman deeksha begins on Chaitra Purnima and ends on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami, which is kept as Hanuman Jayanti; Kondagattu and other Anjaneya temples are the centres.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Hanumath Jayanthi falls in the month of Margazhi (December–January), on the new moon under the Moola nakshatra; vadai malas (garlands of vadas) and butter are offered to Anjaneya, as at Namakkal and Suchindram.

Karnataka

Hanuman Vratam is kept on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi (November–December).

Odisha

Hanuman Jayanti coincides with Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuva Sankranti, the Odia New Year, around 14 April), when the sweet drink pana is offered and shared.

Parts of North India

Some traditions, including at Hanuman Garhi, also celebrate Hanuman's birth on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman GarhiAyodhya, Uttar PradeshSankat Mochan HanumanVaranasi, Uttar PradeshMahavir Mandir PatnaPatna, BiharMehandipur Balaji TempleDausa, Rajasthan

Frequently asked questions