Hanuman Janmotsav (Hanuman Jayanti) Celebration: Date, Puja vidhi, Importance

Hanuman Janam Utsav, popularly known as Hanuman Jayanti is looked upon as an important Hindu Festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman Jayanti falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima, the full moon day of Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar. So, every year, around March and April according to the gregorian calendar, millions of Hindus around the world celebrate Lord Hanuman's birth with a lot of faith and dedication.

What should it be called- Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav?

Jayanti is marked to celebrate the birthday of a person who is no more on this Earth, or in a simpler term who has died. On the other hand, Janmotsav is the birthday celebration of someone alive on the Earth.

We have many proofs from our scriptures, such as Ramayana that Shri Hanuman is still alive on Earth. There are many proofs from the present era too, which marks the presence of Hanuman Ji on Earth. Therefore, we should call his birthday Hanuman Janmotsav and not Hanuman Jayanti.

When is Hanuman Jayanti in 2022?

This year, Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav falls on Saturday, 16th April.

Why is Lord Hanuman worshipped on Tuesdays?

Hanumanji Maharaj was born at dawn on the auspicious day of Chaitra Shukla Purnima on a Tuesday. That is why Tuesday is considered to be a special day for Shri Hanuman worshipping.

Hanuman Jayanti 2022 Date: Saturday, 16th April, 2022

In 2022, Hanuman Janmotsav will be celebrated on 16th April.

When is Hanuman Aarti done on Hanuman Jayanti?

The festivities of Hanuman Janamotsav start at dawn by performing Hanuman Ji's aarti. Generally, all the temples and the devotees at their home perform Hanuman aarti at Brahma muhurta (before sunrise), as Hanuman Ji was born at dawn.

Shri Hanuman

Lord Shri Hanuman was born to King Kesari and Anjana. He is the incarnation of Lord Shiva and also known as Pawan Putra as Lord of wind (Pawan Dev) played an important role in the birth of Lord Hanuman.

These lines from Hanuman Chalisa proves the fact:

Anjani putra – son of ma anjana

Pawan sut naama – his name is son of wind

Sumiraun Pawan Kumar – I am remembering son of wind

Sankar suvan – an incarnation of Lord Shankar

Kesari nandan – son of Kesari

Shri Hanuman is worshipped with myriad names such as Mahavira, Bajrang, Anjani Kumar, Pawan Putra, Ramdoot, Balaji, etc. However, he is reverently called 'Sankat mochan' by all his devotees. Sankat mochan means remover of difficulties. From children to aged, whether in India or all over the world, have utmost faith in Lord Hanuman. They pray with reverence and devotion in Bhagwan Hanuman and in return, Hanumanji fulfills all their wishes and eliminates all types of crisis & grief of his devotees.

Shri Hanuman is known as a Brahmachari, extremely powerful, extremely intelligent, great scholar, truthful, exceptionally loyal, ever ready to shower blessings to all.

In temples throughout India, he appears in the form of a monkey with a red face who stands erect like a human. For his service to Rama, Hanuman is upheld as a model for all human devotion.

Hanuman janmotsav (Hanuman Jayanti) celebration: Puja vidhi

There is no hard and fast rule and one particular procedure to perform Hanman janmotsav puja. Generally, one or some of the rituals are performed by the devotees on Hanuman Janmotsav.

1. Start Akhand Ramayan path (non-stop Ramayana reading for 24 hours) a day before Hanuman Janmotsav and finish it with hanuman aarti on Hanuman Janmotsav.

2. All family members may chant Hanuman Chalisa at 5: 30 A.M. (at dawn) and perform Hanuman aarti.

3. Recite sunder kand at least once.

4. Read Hanuman Chalisa 108 times.

5. Perform Yajna (Havan) for Shri Hanuman's blessings and to remove all difficulties and the evil eye.

6. Hanuman JI loves vermillion. Worship the deity by offering vermilion or red cloth. Hanuman Ji is also offered flowers, especially marigold and rose.

7. Shri Hanuman Bhajan & Sankirtan, nightlong bhajan (Jagran) can be performed.

8. In prasadam, Hanuman Ji's favorite food is offered. Shri Hanuman is fond of Churma- especially Bajra choorma, Bundiya-laddu, peda, banana, guava, halwa, coconut.

Want to read why Bajra choorma is offered to Shri Hanuman? Read the story.

 

Hanuman Ji is most delighted & pleased with the offering of Sawamani bhog. After that, it is distributed among the devotees, friends, families, Brahmins & poor people. However, rice is never offered to him.

Large fairs are organized in renowned temples where lakhs of people reach for darshan. There are long queues for the darshan taking a very long time –sometimes even from dawn to dusk. Salasar Balaji, Mehandipur Balaji, Kaale Hanumanji of Jaipur, Panchamukhi Balaji of Kolkata are some of the famous Hanuman mandirs in India.

References:

1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanuman
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman_Jayanti

3. Ramayana book