Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated during the month of Chaitra.

Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the God. From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him.

Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of Hindus. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Garuda in swiftness of flight. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.

The devotees will visit temples and apply tilak of sindhur to their foreheads from the Hanumans body as this is considered to be good luck. According to the legend Sita was applying sindhur to her head, Hanuman Ji questioned why and replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband. Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindhur, in an effort to ensure Rama’s immortality.

In Maharashtra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day (purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. A special feature of Hanuman Jayanti is that according to some religious almanacs (panchangs) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra. On this day, in a Hanuman temple spiritual discourses are started at dawn. Hanuman was born at sunrise. At that time the spiritual discourse is stopped and the offering of food (Prasad) is distributed to everyone.

Spiritual discourses are organised in most of the Hindu temples on this day.

In the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Margazhi( normally comes between December 16 to January 14). There it is believed that Hanuman or Anjaneya was born on Moola Nakshatra,on the new moon day (amavasya) in the month of Margazhi.