Chaitra, the first month of Hindu calendar is very auspicious in many senses. Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada is being celebrated as ‘Gudhi Padwa’ the first day of new year. The nine day period of Chaitra month from Pratipada to Navami is celebrated as Navaratri. People worship Gauri and Lord Rama during this nine days period. The ninth day of Chaitra Shuddha month is being celebrated as Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. The full moon day of Chaitra month is known as Hanuman Jayanti. This year Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on April 27 to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. It is believed that Lord Hanuman was born during Chaitra Purnima just after sunrise during weekday Tuesday and this year Hanuman Jayanti is on Tuesday.

 

He was born during Chitra Nakshatra and Mesha Lagna. Lord Hanuman is so popular in India that even every smallest village in India has a temple of Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman is most popularly known as an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and he is a central figure of Hindu epic Ramayana. He is one of the Chiranjivi(s) i.e. immortal living beings who are to remain alive on the Earth forever. Lord Hanuman is famous across the country by various names like Mahaveer, Anjaneya, Dakshinamurti, Pawan Putra, Anjaniputra, Kesari Nandan and Maruti. Lord Hanuman is the son of Mata Anjana and Kesari. He is also described as the son of Vayu Deva i.e. the wind god.

 

Though Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra Pournima, devotees observe Hanuman Jayanti during different time of the year according to their regional beliefs and the type of calendar being followed. Hanuman Jayanti during Chaitra Purnima is the most popular one in North Indian states. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated for 41-days which starts on Chaitra Purnima and ends on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishakha month. In Tamil Nadu, Hanuman Jayanti is known as Hanumath Jayanti and observed during Margashirsha Amavasya. In Karnataka, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi during Margashirsha month. The day is popularly known as Hanuman Vratam.