01What Hanuman Jayanti is
Hanuman Jayanti is the Purnima of Chaitra, the full moon of spring, kept in north India as the birth of Hanuman, the devotee of Rama. Temples of Hanuman fill from before dawn. In parts of the south his birth is kept on other days, in Margashirsha or Vaishakha, and some traditions in the north also keep it on the Chaturdashi before Diwali.
02The story told of it
The Ramayana and the Puranas tell that Hanuman was born to Anjana and Kesari with the blessing of Vayu, the wind, and is called his son. As a child he is said to have leapt at the rising sun, taking it for a fruit, and the gods, to calm the trouble, gave him many powers. He grew to become Rama's devoted messenger, who crossed the sea to Lanka to find Sita.
03How it is kept
Devotees bathe early and visit Hanuman temples, where the image is anointed with sindoor mixed in jasmine oil, and red flowers, laddoos and garlands of betel leaves are offered. The Hanuman Chalisa, the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana and the Bajrang Baan are recited, often many times through the day, and many keep a fast until the evening.
04How the day is chosen
Hanuman Jayanti is kept on the day Chaitra Purnima is current at sunrise.
05Hanuman Jayanti in other years