Chaitra Purnima

A Hanuman temple at Haridwar.
Observed by	Hindus
Type	Religious
Celebrations	1 day
Begins	Chaitra Purnima
Ends	Chaitra Purnima
2016 date	April 21
2017 date	April 11, Tuesday
2018 date	March 31, Saturday
Frequency	Annual

Hanuman Jayanti or Hanumath Jayanti is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra (the Chaitra Pournimaa) This day marks the birth of Lord Sri Hanuman, who is immensely venerated throughout India and Nepal.

On this auspicious day, devotees of Lord Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection and blessings. They flock to temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, The devotees receive prasad by the temple preists in the form of sweets, flowers, coconuts, tilak, sacred ash (udi) and ganga jal (holy water). People also celebrate him on this day by reciting various devotional hyms and prayers like the Hanuman Chalisa and reading holy scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of the Hindus. Lord Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Rama and is widely known for his unflinching devotion to Sri Rama. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. He is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield the gada (including many celestial weapons), move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and equally rival Garuda in swiftness of flight.

Lord Hanuman is worshipped as a deity with the ability to attain victory against evil and provide protection.

Lord Hanuman was born on the Anjaneri mountain. His mother Anjana was an apsara who was born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse on giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati, he was the King of a place named Sumeru. Anjana performed intense prayers lasting 12 long years to Shiva to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the son they sought. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Shiva himself.