Introduction

Hanuman Jayanti is the principal festival of Hindu. It is celebrated on full moon day of Chaitra as per the Hindu lunar calendar. It is the birthday of Lord Hanuman; the Monkey God. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Devotees offer prayer to Hanuman and seek his blessings. They pray for making themselves as brave and valiant as Hanuman himself.

About Hanuman

Hanuman is one of the most venerated deities of Hindu. He is considered to be the greatest devotee of Lord Rama. As per the Hindu mythology Hanuman is the tenth incarnation of Rudra or Shiva. Hanuman was born to Monkey King Keshri and Queen Anjani. From the very early childhood Hanuman had remarkable power and strength. In the pride of his power he started misusing it. One day he swallowed the Sun mistaking it as a fruit. The whole world receded into darkness. Indra, the King of heaven in a hurry attacked him with his Bajra; a weapon hard to resist. It struck Hanuman’s “Hanu” means chin so he is named as such. Hanuman was blessed by all the Gods for immortality and power to withstand any weapon. He was the greatest general in the battle against Ravana in Ram’s army. When Lakshman was struck with a lethal weapon shot by Meghnad; the son of Ravana, Hanuman came to rescue him by carrying the whole mountain abundant with life saving herb “Sanjivini Booti”.

Celebration of Hanuman Jayanti

On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, the devotees visit the temple of Hanuman and perform worship with traditional custom and rituals. They apply “Tilak of Sidoor” on their forehead as the mark of good luck. The legend has it that once Hanuman asked Sita why she apply sindoor on her forehead? She replied “For the long life of my husband Ram”. Hearing this Hanuman then smeared his body with sindoor in an effort to make Ram’s life immortal. On the day of festival celebration starts with the break of dawn as Hanuman is believed to be born at the time of sunrise. After the end of religious discourse the Prasad is distributed to everyone.