Festival companion · Tuesday 20 April 2027

Hanuman Jayanti

Strength, courage and devotion. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Hanuman Jayanti

When Hanuman was a baby he saw the rising sun and thought it was a ripe mango. He leapt into the sky to eat it. Indra, king of the gods, struck him with his thunderbolt, and he fell to earth with a hurt jaw, his hanu, which is how he got his name.

His father Vayu, the wind, was so upset that he stopped blowing, and the world could not breathe. To make peace, every god gave baby Hanuman a gift: strength, speed, wisdom and a long life.

Hanuman grew up to serve Rama with all his heart. He leapt across the ocean to find Sita and carried a whole mountain to save Lakshmana. We pray to him for courage and to be fearless.

How families celebrate

Hanuman Jayanti honours Hanuman, the devoted helper of Rama. In the north it falls on the full moon of Chaitra; in Karnataka it is kept in December and in Tamil Nadu in December or January. Families chant the Hanuman Chalisa and offer vada, sindoor and betel leaves.

Hanuman Chalisa (once or eleven times), a vada mala or plate of vadas, sindoor and jasmine oil, and a visit to a Hanuman temple.

At home

The Puja

A home puja anyone can follow, step by step, with the words to say.

Before you begin

  1. Prepare

    Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Set out a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, water in a small vessel with a spoon, a bell and the naivedya (food offering).

  2. Light the lamp

    Light the lamp with ghee or oil and fold your hands.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  3. Pray to Ganesha first

    Every puja begins with Ganesha, so the rest goes without obstacles. Offer a flower or a little rice.

    SayVakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha, nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

  4. Achamana and sankalpa

    Sip a spoon of water three times. Then hold a little water, rice and a flower and say, in your own language, who you are, where you are, and why you are doing this puja today. Let it fall in a plate.

    SayOm Keshavaya namah · Om Narayanaya namah · Om Madhavaya namah

Step by step

  1. Set up

    Place a picture of Hanuman, ideally with Rama, and decorate with orange or red flowers.

  2. Worship Rama first

    Hanuman is happiest when Rama is worshipped, so begin with Rama.

    SayShri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama

  3. Worship Hanuman

    Offer sindoor mixed with jasmine oil (or just flowers), betel leaves and bananas.

    SayOm Hanumate namah

  4. Hanuman Chalisa

    Chant the Hanuman Chalisa together once, or eleven times if you can.

    SayManojavam maruta tulya vegam jitendriyam buddhimatam varishtham, vatatmajam vanara yutha mukhyam Shri Rama dutam sharanam prapadye

  5. Offer vadas

    Offer vadas or a sweet, and share with friends.

Closing

  1. Naivedya

    Place the food before the deity, sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with your hands open.

    SayOm pranaya svaha · Om apanaya svaha · Om vyanaya svaha · Om udanaya svaha · Om samanaya svaha

  2. Aarti

    Wave the camphor or ghee lamp clockwise in front of the deity, ringing the bell, while the family sings an aarti or bhajan.

  3. Pradakshina and namaskara

    Turn around once clockwise where you stand, then bow or prostrate. Ask forgiveness for anything done wrongly.

    SayYani kani cha papani janmantara kritani cha, tani tani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

  4. Share the prasada

    Share the naivedya with everyone at home and with neighbours.

The 16 offerings

Most home pujas follow the sixteen offerings, the shodashopachara. When you have little time, offer flowers, a lamp and food with love; that is enough.

  1. DhyanaThink of the deity
  2. AvahanaInvite the deity
  3. AsanaOffer a seat (a flower or rice)
  4. PadyaWater to wash the feet
  5. ArghyaWater to wash the hands
  6. AchamaniyaWater to sip
  7. SnanaA bath (sprinkle water, or abhisheka)
  8. VastraClothes (a cloth or cotton thread)
  9. Yajnopavita / AbharanaSacred thread or ornaments
  10. GandhaSandal paste, turmeric and kumkum
  11. PushpaFlowers and leaves
  12. DhupaIncense
  13. DeepaA lamp
  14. NaivedyaFood
  15. TambulaBetel leaf and nut, or fruit
  16. Nirajana and namaskaraAarti, flowers and bowing

Print

A printable version of this puja is on its way. Until then, use the Print button.

This is a simple home puja. Every family and region has its own customs, so follow your elders or priest where they differ.

Cook together

Medu Vada

More recipes →
South India · Hanuman Jayanti, festivals

Medu Vada

Urad dal doughnuts: uddina vade in Kannada, ulundu vadai in Tamil, garelu in Telugu

  • 30 min (+3 hrs soaking)
  • Serves 12 vadas
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole white urad dal, soaked 3 hours
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns, lightly crushed
  • 1 tbsp chopped ginger, a few curry leaves
  • 1 green chilli, chopped (optional)
  • Oil for deep frying

Method

  1. Grind the drained dal with as little water as possible to a fluffy, thick batter. Beat it with your hand for 2 minutes.
  2. Mix in salt, pepper, ginger, curry leaves and chilli.
  3. With wet hands, shape a ball, flatten it and press a hole in the middle.
  4. Slide into hot oil and fry on medium heat until golden and crisp.

If the batter is too soft, add a spoon of rice flour. Hanuman is offered a garland of vadas in South Indian temples.

For children

Make a Hanuman gada (mace)

You need

  • A paper cup or small ball
  • A cardboard tube
  • Gold or orange paper
  • Tape

Steps

  1. Cover the ball or upside-down cup with gold paper.
  2. Cover the tube with orange paper.
  3. Tape the ball firmly to one end of the tube.
  4. Use it while acting out Hanuman's leap to Lanka.

Get ready

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