Hanuman Jayanti

At Hanuman Jayanti, Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Hanuman. It falls in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (April).

Who celebrates?

Hindus around the world.

How do people celebrate?

• As Hanuman is believed to have been born at sunrise, celebrations in his honour begin early in the morning
• Devotees visit the temple and apply sindoor (red powder) to their foreheads, as Hanuman’s image is always coloured red
• The sacred text Hanuman Chalisa may also be recited either a set number of times or non-stop for 24 hours.

What should I know?

• Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is revered for his dedication to him
• Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy and he can assume any form, a power which he uses to conquer evil
• The event is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra (the Chaitra Pournimaa)
• In the 2011 census 1.5% of the UK identified as Hindu.

How can I support others?

• Ask people if they or their families will be celebrating
• Do not assume that if someone’s family is Hindu that they will be celebrating
• Encourage celebrations internally and externally
• Talk to your team about the religious representation among your volunteer, employee and service user population and if it’s representative of your area.

BBC: Hanuman Jayanti: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/hanuman.shtml

Traditional Prasad recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwx4fAE78pk