Festival · Hanuman

Hanuman Jayanti

The birth of Hanuman, kept on the full moon of Chaitra in much of North India. Some regions mark it on other dates.

Hanuman Jayanti 2027
Tuesday 20 April 2027
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Tuesday 20 April 2027

Purnima tithi

Begins
4:52 am
Ends
3:57 am, 21 Apr
Sunrise
5:51 am
Sunset
6:50 pm
Moonrise
6:31 pm
Moonset
5:34 am, 21 Apr

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Recite the Hanuman Chalisa
  • Visit a Hanuman temple
  • Offer sindoor and sweets
Read the Hanuman Chalisa →

What it remembers

Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Hanuman, son of the wind, devotee of Rama and the strength of the Ramayana. Across most of North India it falls on the full moon of Chaitra, in the heat of spring; other regions keep it on their own dates. Temples ring with the Hanuman Chalisa from before dawn, and sindoor and laddoos are offered.

Son of the wind

Anjana, an apsara born as a vanara, prayed for a son, and Vayu, the wind, carried to her a share of the sacred payasam from King Dasharatha’s yajna, the same offering that gave Ayodhya its princes. Her son was Anjaneya, Maruti, the son of the wind, born at sunrise on the full moon of Chaitra.

The sun for a fruit

As a child Hanuman took the rising sun for a ripe fruit and leapt at it. Indra struck him down with his thunderbolt, breaking his jaw (hanu), and the furious wind withdrew from the world until the gods blessed the boy with strength, speed and the gift that no weapon could harm him.

The leap to Lanka

Reminded of his forgotten powers by Jambavan, Hanuman leapt across the sea to Lanka, found Sita in the Ashoka grove, gave her Rama’s ring, and burnt the city with his tail. The Sundarakanda, the fifth book of the Ramayana, is his book, and is read on his birthday.

The sindoor

Seeing Sita put sindoor in the parting of her hair for Rama’s long life, Hanuman covered his whole body in it, reasoning that it would do Rama all the more good. That is why his images are red with sindoor, and why devotees offer it on this day.

Keeping the day

Hanuman is worshipped simply: with the Chalisa, with sindoor and oil, and with strength given to others. Families keep it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. Bathe before sunrise, Hanuman’s birth hour, and visit a Hanuman temple if you can; the first aarti is at dawn.
  2. Many fast through the day, on fruit, or until the evening aarti. Brahmacharya, plain food and no onion or garlic are kept.
  3. At home, place an image of Hanuman, and before it an image of Rama and Sita, whom he serves.
  4. Offer sindoor mixed with jaggery or ghee, a lamp of mustard oil, red flowers, betel leaves and a garland of leaves (arka or tulsi).
  5. Offer boondi laddoos, bananas, jaggery and roasted gram, his favourites, and share them as prasad.
  6. Recite the Hanuman Chalisa, Bajrang Baan or the Sundarakanda. Many read the Chalisa eleven or a hundred and eight times on this day.
  7. Give strength to others: feed people, help someone carry a load, or donate at a temple. Wrestling bouts and feats of strength are old customs of the day.

What you need

  • An image of Hanuman, and one of Rama and Sita
  • Sindoor, jaggery or ghee, and mustard oil for the lamp
  • Red flowers, betel leaves and a leaf garland
  • Boondi laddoos, bananas and roasted gram
  • The Hanuman Chalisa to read from

Across India

North India

Chaitra Purnima: processions with Hanuman’s image, akharas showing their strength, and the Chalisa sung in every temple from dawn.

Maharashtra

Hanuman Jayanti at sunrise on Chaitra Purnima, with kirtans through the night before and the birth announced at dawn.

Tamil Nadu

Hanumath Jayanthi on the Margashirsha Amavasya (December–January), when the Moon is in Moola nakshatra, at Nanganallur and Namakkal above all.

Karnataka

Hanuman Vratam on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi; Hampi, held to be Kishkindha, Hanuman’s birthplace, is the centre.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

A 41-day deeksha beginning on Chaitra Purnima and ending on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami, the day of Hanuman’s birth in that tradition.

Odisha and Bengal

In Odisha the day is Pana Sankranti, the solar new year, with the Hanuman image bathed in pana (a sweet drink); Bengal keeps Chaitra Purnima.

When it falls

Purnima of Chaitra. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Hanuman Jayanti in the coming years

New Delhi, India time

  1. 2027Tuesday 20 April 2027
  2. 2028Sunday 9 April 2028

Questions

When is Hanuman Jayanti in 2027?

Tuesday 20 April 2027, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Hanuman Jayanti fall?

Purnima of Chaitra. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

How is Hanuman Jayanti kept?

Families recite the Hanuman Chalisa, visit a Hanuman temple and offer sindoor and sweets. Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Hanuman Jayanti?

Hanuman. The birth of Hanuman, kept on the full moon of Chaitra in much of North India. Some regions mark it on other dates.

Why do different regions keep Hanuman Jayanti on different days?

The Puranas give more than one account of Hanuman’s birth. The north and Maharashtra follow Chaitra Purnima; Tamil Nadu the new moon of Margashirsha; Karnataka the thirteenth day of Margashirsha’s bright fortnight; Andhra and Telangana end a 41-day deeksha on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami. This page follows the Chaitra Purnima date.

Why is sindoor offered to Hanuman?

The story tells that Hanuman saw Sita wear sindoor for Rama’s long life and covered himself in it so that Rama would live for ever. His images are coated in sindoor, and devotees offer it, mixed with jaggery or ghee, on his day.

What time was Hanuman born?

At sunrise, by most tellings, which is why temples hold the birth aarti at dawn on Chaitra Purnima. The page shows sunrise for your city.