Learn why Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on two different days in India. Understand the lunar calendar, regional traditions, and spiritual significance behind both dates.
Each year, India observes Hanuman Jayanti, celebrating Lord Hanuman's birthday, an event imbued with great respect. Yet, many people are surprised to discover that it falls on two separate days. This is not an error, but has to do with local customs and calendars. In this post we will explain why there are two days, what they are and how people in India observe both.
Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman, who was a devoted follower of Lord Rama. He represents strength, devotion and selfless service. This birthday celebration is a significant religious observance that is celebrated with fasting, prayers, visiting temples, and chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. Unlike the Gregorian calendar where most dates are fixed and are not changed from year to year, Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. This may lead to multiple ways of interpreting one event depending on one's region and scriptural sources. Thus in India, you'll notice that Hanuman Jayanti is observed on two different dates. The essence of the celebration does not change- honoring the ideals of Hanuman - but the dates are different. This is a good example of the fluidity and diversity of Hindu cultural traditions.
Hanuman Jayanti is popularly celebrated on: - The Chaitra Purnima (Purnima in March-April) - The Margashirsha Amavasya (Amavasya in December-January) The two dates are marked in respective regions with specific implications.
In much of North India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra Purnima, which means the full moon day of the Hindu month Chaitra. This date typically falls in March or April. According to local beliefs and some Puranic texts, Lord Hanuman was born on this day. Thousands of devotees will congregate in temples to sing the Hanuman Chalisa and perform different rituals, which include: the Sankat Mochan path (which is chanting for protection from trouble), offering Sindoor and sweets to the idol, and arranging for langars (free meals). In many places, this celebration is during the time of the Hindu New Year, which adds to its religious significance.
In South Indian states, the celebration of Hanuman Jayanti takes place during the month of Margashirsha Amavasya, which usually falls in December or January, and is celebrated according to local customs specifically from a Hanuman point of view. Here the customs come from different local interpretations of ancient texts and are especially tied to Agama Shastras and the local Panchangs (calendars). In custom we ordinarily observe the birth of Hanuman with the following practices: Abhishekam of the deity, reciting Sundara Kanda, special pujas, and deepa aradhana. The theme is one of spiritual purification and inner strength during the reflective and cooler time of the year.
The cause for the existence of dual dates is derived from variations in scripture and different regional Panchangs in India. In the Hindu calendar, there are two main types: The Amanta calendar (month ending with Amavasya) and the Purnimanta calendar (month ending with Purnima). North India follows the Purnimanta system, placing the Hanuman Jayanti in Chaitra. South India follows the Amanta system, which leads to the observance in the Margashirsha month. Another reason is a scripture leaning — there are a number of other texts that specify different tithis (lunar dates) as the birth date of Lord Hanuman, and the different communities adapt that into either of the two festivals.
Fasting and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, going to temples such as Sankat Mochan Temple (Varanasi), processions and distribution of prasad.
Complex ceremonies within the temple, singing bhajans in the neighborhood and reading the Ramayana, longer spiritual discussions and nighttime festivals.
Astrological positions are significant in the nature of religious practices in Hinduism. Hanuman Jayanti is associated with Moola Nakshatra and on a Tuesday, which is itself regarded as the day when Hanuman appeared. There are certain years when there may be a rare overlap of both calendars which leads to the same occasion being observed on both dates. If this is the case, this may lead to commonplace celebrations across the nation on either date, with devotees even engaging in fasts on both occasions in either month, in some cases. Calendars such as the Drik Panchang now seem to accommodate both occasions.
