Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on two different dates in India — a source of genuine confusion each year. North India observes Hanuman Jayanti on Chaitra Purnima (the full moon of the Chaitra month, falling in March or April). South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, observes it on Moola Nakshatra in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January). Both dates have scriptural grounding. The difference reflects two distinct calculations of Hanuman’s birth — one based on the lunar calendar date, the other on the birth nakshatra (star).
The North Indian Date: Chaitra Purnima
The most widely observed Hanuman Jayanti in India falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima — the full moon of the bright fortnight of Chaitra (the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar). In the Gregorian calendar this falls in late March or April.
The Valmiki Ramayana does not directly state the date of Hanuman’s birth in the Bala Kanda. The date is derived from the Ananda Ramayana and from Parashar Samhita, which specify that Hanuman was born:
- In the month of Chaitra
- On a Tuesday (Mangalvar)
- In the Swati Nakshatra (the 15th lunar mansion)
- During the Purnima (full moon) tithi
- At sunrise (pratah kaal)
This combination of Chaitra + Purnima + Tuesday is what fixed the date. Most of North India, large parts of Maharashtra, and the Hindi-belt states observe Hanuman Jayanti on this day. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab follow this calendar.
The South Indian Date: Moola Nakshatra in Margazhi
Tamil Nadu follows a different tradition: Hanuman Jayanti (called Anjaneyar Jayanti in Tamil) is observed on Moola Nakshatra (the 19th lunar mansion, associated with Hanuman’s power and his role as the destroyer of Lanka) falling in the Tamil month of Margazhi (roughly December–January).
The Tamil tradition draws from the Kamba Ramayanam — the 12th-century Tamil retelling of the Ramayana by Kambar — and from South Indian temple traditions which calculate the birth not from the tithi (lunar day) but from the janma nakshatra (birth star). Moola nakshatra is associated with Hanuman in South Indian astrology because it is the nakshatra of the root, the foundation — appropriate for the one whose devotion to Ram is the foundation of all bhakti.
Some temples in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow the Chaitra Purnima date (aligning with North India), while Tamil Nadu temple tradition predominantly follows the Margazhi Moola date.
A Third Observation: Karthigai Month in Some Temples
A smaller number of South Indian temples, particularly those following the Pancharatra Agama tradition, observe Hanuman’s birth during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November). This is the least widespread observation but is maintained in certain ancient temple lineages in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Calendar: Upcoming Hanuman Jayanti Dates
| Year | North India (Chaitra Purnima) | South India / Tamil Nadu (Margazhi Moola) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 April 2025 | 4 January 2025 |
| 2026 | 2 April 2026 | 24 December 2025 |
| 2027 | 21 April 2027 | 13 January 2027 |
| 2028 | 10 April 2028 | 2 January 2028 |
Note: Exact dates depend on the traditional panchang (Hindu calendar). Confirm with your local temple or panchang for the precise date each year, as there can be small regional variations.
How Each Tradition Celebrates
In North India (Chaitra Purnima): Temples open before sunrise for the main puja. Hanuman Chalisa is recited in continuous rotation (akhand path) through the night preceding the Jayanti. Devotees fast until sunset. Processions (shobha yatras) are taken out with Hanuman’s image through the streets. Prasad typically includes sindoor mixed with ghee, jaggery, and besan laddoos.
In Tamil Nadu (Margazhi Moola): Temples perform special abhishekam (ritual bathing of the idol) with panchaamrit (five sacred liquids). Sundarakanda parayanam (recitation of Sundar Kand) is a central feature. Because Margazhi is considered the most sacred month (Lord Krishna called it the best of months in the Bhagavad Gita), Hanuman Jayanti in this month carries additional spiritual weight in the South Indian tradition.
Does the Date Difference Matter?
No. Both dates are celebrating the same truth: the birth of Hanuman Ji on this earth. The variation reflects the richness of Hindu tradition — different regions and textual lineages emphasising different aspects of the same event. Many devotees in South India celebrate on both dates, and many North Indian temples are aware of the South Indian date and acknowledge it. The divine Hanuman is not limited to a calendar — he is present wherever his name is remembered.
Related Pages
- Hanuman Jayanti — Significance and How to Celebrate
- Mangalvar Vrat — Tuesday Fast for Hanuman
- Hanuman Festival Calendar — Key Dates
- About Hanuman Ji
Jai Hanuman Jayanti! Jai Bajrang Bali!