Countdown
Thursday, April 2, 2026 · Past event
Countdown
Hanuman Jayanti 2026
Event overview
Hanuman Jayanti 2026 — celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra; observed with Sundarkand recitations and temple processions.
Hanuman Jayanti 2026 — celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman — falling on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Observed across India and the diaspora with Sundarkand recitations, temple processions, and 24-hour bhandara feeding programmes.
Hanuman Jayanti commemorates the birth of Hanuman, the monkey-god of Hindu mythology, devotee and companion of Lord Rama, central character of the Ramayana, and embodiment of strength, courage, devotion and selfless service. The most widely observed date — Chaitra Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Chaitra — is followed in northern India and the broader Hindu world. Several southern Indian traditions observe the festival on a different date (typically in Margashirsha), and Tamil Nadu has its own date based on the panchanga.
Hanuman is one of the most-worshipped deities of contemporary Hinduism. He is the seventh chiranjivi (immortal); a son of Vayu, the wind god, and Anjana; a yogi and brahmachari; the destroyer of demons; and the supreme bhakta (devotee). His role in the Ramayana — locating Sita in Lanka, leading the search for the Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana, burning down Ravana's capital — makes him one of the epic's most beloved characters. Hanuman is also seen as the patron deity of physical fitness, wrestling and martial arts; akharas across India are dedicated to him.
The Hanuman Chalisa, a 40-verse devotional poem composed by Tulsidas in the 16th century, is the most-recited Hindu prayer in the world today, with daily recitation by millions across India and the diaspora. Hanuman temples — most notably the Sankat Mochan in Varanasi, Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya, the Mehandipur Balaji in Rajasthan, and the Salasar Balaji in Rajasthan — see their largest annual footfall on Hanuman Jayanti.
The day begins with a pre-dawn bath and visits to Hanuman temples. The full Sundarkand — the fifth book of the Ramayana, which describes Hanuman's flight to Lanka and his discovery of Sita — is recited aloud, often in unbroken sessions lasting six to eight hours. The Hanuman Chalisa is recited 11, 21, or 108 times. Temples organise bhandaras (community meals) that feed thousands; major Hanuman temples in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya feed tens of thousands free of charge through the day.
Devotees offer sindoor (vermilion paste) — Hanuman is depicted with a sindoor-coated body — alongside boondi laddoo, banana, jaggery and roses. Wrestlers and martial-arts schools (akharas) traditionally hold open exhibitions and tournaments on this day. In Maharashtra, several Hanuman temples organise predawn shobha yatras (devotional processions) through their towns. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka host similar processions in Hanuman's regional avatars.
The day is observed without holiday status in India but is widely treated as a personal/community holiday by devotees who fast (often a partial fast with no grains) until evening.
Drik Panchang publishes Hanuman Jayanti tithi timings for cities worldwide. Indian state broadcasters and Aastha cover the major Hanuman temples (Sankat Mochan, Hanuman Garhi, Salasar Balaji) live. Diaspora Hindu temples in the US (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha and others), UK, Singapore, Mauritius, Australia and Trinidad organise community Sundarkand recitations.
Hanuman Jayanti 2026 falls in the same week as Akshaya Tritiya 2026 and is part of the wider Hindu festival arc that includes Maha Shivratri 2026, Ratha Yatra 2026, Onam 2026 and Diwali 2026.
When is Hanuman Jayanti 2026? Thursday, April 2, 2026 — Chaitra Purnima. What's the principal observance? Recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand at Hanuman temples; community bhandaras; visits to major Hanuman shrines. Where are the largest Hanuman temples? Sankat Mochan (Varanasi), Hanuman Garhi (Ayodhya), Salasar Balaji and Mehandipur Balaji (both Rajasthan), and the Jakhoo Temple (Shimla). Why is Hanuman associated with strength and fitness? He is the patron deity of akharas (traditional wrestling schools) and is invoked by athletes and bodybuilders; his role in the Ramayana repeatedly demonstrates strength in service of dharma.
Related countdowns
Mahavir Jayanti 2026
Orthodox Easter 2026
Assam Legislative Assembly Election 2026
Kerala Legislative Assembly Election 2026
Apple Computer — 50th Anniversary
Llama 5 Launch
