Hanuman Jayanti 2025: Why Is the Hindu Festival Celerated Twice?

India celebrates Hanuman Jayanti, the birth of Lord Hanuman, with enormous devotion. Devotees of Lord Hanuman often chant the Hanuman Chalisa on this day as a form of worship. Hanuman Jayanti is not celebrated on the same date nationwide. Depending on regional beliefs and traditions, people observe Hanuman Jayanti twice a year. This variation can lead to confusion among devotees over when to celebrate the festival.

Two Hanuman Jayantis: Chaitra vs. Margashirsha

The most commonly celebrated Hanuman Jayanti falls in the month of Chaitra (March-April), on the full moon day known as Chaitra Purnima. In North India, this version is widely accepted. It is said that Lord Hanuman was born on this day to Anjana and Kesari, with the wind god, Vayu's, blessings.

However, South India celebrates Hanuman Jayanti during Margashirsha, which falls between December and January. Lord Hanuman devotees in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana observe a 41-day deeksha leading up to Hanuman Jayanti, which culminates on Hanuman's Anjaneya Jayanti—a highly auspicious day.

The primary cause of the two different dates is rooted in regional traditions and interpretations of ancient texts. Even though some texts in the Hindu Puranas place Hanuman's birth in Chaitra, others align it with Margashirsha. Over the years, both traditions have evolved independently; both versions are widely followed and equally respected.