April 3, 2026 – On Thursday, April 2, 2026 (Chaitra Purnima), India witnessed grand celebrations of Hanuman Jayanti 2026, the sacred birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman — the eternal symbol of strength, courage, unwavering devotion, and selfless service to Lord Ram.

From bustling metropolises to small towns and villages, millions of devotees woke up before dawn, observed fasts, performed special pujas, recited the Hanuman Chalisa, and participated in colourful processions to seek blessings of Bajrangbali for protection, inner strength, and removal of obstacles.

Here is a detailed state-wise overview of how India celebrated Hanuman Jayanti 2026:

North India

Uttar Pradesh Ayodhya, the spiritual heartland, saw unprecedented devotion at Hanuman Garhi. Long queues of devotees offered sindoor, jasmine oil, laddoos, bananas, and red flowers from early morning. Special Sundar Kand Path and Akhand Ramayana were organised throughout the day. Other major temples in Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur were packed with bhaktas reciting Hanuman Chalisa in large groups.

Delhi-NCR Major temples including Prachin Hanuman Mandir (Connaught Place), Hanuman Mandir Karol Bagh, and temples in Noida, Gurgaon, and Faridabad witnessed heavy footfall. Continuous aartis, bhajans, and mass recitation of Hanuman Chalisa echoed across the capital region.

Bihar & Jharkhand Temples in Patna, Gaya, and Ranchi organised grand Shobha Yatras (processions) with idols of Lord Hanuman carried through the streets amid enthusiastic chanting of “Jai Bajrangbali”. Community bhandaras were organised in large numbers.

Haryana & Punjab Temples in Chandigarh, Kurukshetra, and Amritsar saw vibrant celebrations with special havan, group aarti, and devotional singing. Many families kept strict fasts and performed home pujas.

Western India

Maharashtra The state came alive with grand processions. Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur witnessed colourful Shobha Yatras with dhol, lezim, and devotional music. Temples like Shree Hanuman Mandir, Dadar (Mumbai) and Shree Hanuman Mandir, Nashik were beautifully decorated and thronged by devotees.

Gujarat Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot celebrated with great enthusiasm. Special abhishekams and mass Hanuman Chalisa recitations were held at prominent temples. Many communities organised bhandaras for thousands of devotees.

Rajasthan Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur temples saw traditional Rajasthani-style celebrations with folk bhajans and processions.

South India

Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad’s famous Yoga Narasimha Hanuman Temple and other major temples witnessed huge crowds. Special programmes included Hanuman Chalisa recitation marathons and community annadanam. In Vijayawada and Tirupati, grand celebrations were held with devotional fervour.

Tamil Nadu Temples in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai organised special pujas. Many devotees visited Anjaneyar temples and offered vadas and fruits.

Karnataka Bengaluru, Mysuru, and other cities saw active participation with temple decorations, aartis, and bhajans. Several localities organised neighbourhood Hanuman Chalisa chanting sessions.

Kerala Temples across the state, especially in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, celebrated with traditional Kerala-style rituals and special offerings.

Eastern & Central India

West Bengal & Odisha Kolkata and Bhubaneswar temples held special Hanuman Jayanti events with bhajans and aartis. In Odisha, many devotees observed the festival with traditional fervour.

Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh Indore, Bhopal, and Raipur saw enthusiastic celebrations with processions and mass chanting at prominent Hanuman temples.

Common Rituals Observed Across India

• Early morning holy bath and special puja with sindoor, red cloth, jasmine oil, fresh flowers, bananas, laddoos, and coconuts.
• Recitation of Hanuman Chalisa 11, 21, 51, or 108 times for strength and protection.
• Sundar Kand Path and Akhand Ramayana at homes and temples.
• Grand aarti, bhajans, and havan ceremonies.
• Shobha Yatras and processions in many cities and towns.
• Community bhandaras (free meals) and acts of seva reflecting Hanuman ji’s spirit of selfless service.
• Strict fasts observed by lakhs of devotees.

Spiritual Significance

Hanuman Jayanti reminds every Indian of the power of pure devotion and inner strength. In today’s challenging times, Lord Hanuman’s message of fearlessness, loyalty, humility, and dedication continues to inspire millions across the country.

This year’s celebrations were marked by heightened spiritual energy, unity, and a beautiful blend of tradition and devotion from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Jai Shri Ram! Jai Bajrangbali!