Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti

On New Year's Day

For the last many years 1st of January, is celebrated as the Hanuman Jayanthi (Hanumanji's Birthday) by Swamiji and all his devotees. This marks the auspicious start of the year with the chanting of prayers all day long, bringing peace, happiness, tranquility to all those who attend the celebrations. This is one day none would miss!

The day's program starts as early as 5:00 am (before sunrise) with Ganpati Havan - a pooja or prayer offering food to fire while chanting Ganpati's mantra's. It is a scene difficult to describe, the joy and the heavenly feeling brings a smile on each and every devotee.

The "Havan" is performed using a "Havan Kundh", which is placed at the centre of  the symbols of Ashtadik palaka (representing surrounding) and Swastik (represents ganpati) drawn with colorful haldi rice, vegetable powder (rangoli), symbolically representing harmony in surrounding. Wood logs, incense sticks, camphor cubes are then placed in Havan Kundh and lighted followed by regular offering of pure ghee using the (spatula). A special offering is that of a coconut with hole pierced on top to fill coconut with 9 types of pulses "navdhania", ghee and honey. Prasad offerings include bananas, milk, sweetmeat, sugarcane, coconut, special "Poha Prasad" which is considered Ganpati favourite, "Modak" and other preparations brought in by devotees. The "Havan" lasts for a period of 2 – 2 ½ hours, concluded by the application of "tilak" – a paste of ashes and rose water, by all devotees. This is followed with the offering of sesame seeds to Havan Kundh, which has been touched by all devotes while remembering the names of their deceased in family / friends.  Swamiji says this brings peace to soul of the deceased.  Lastly, Swamiji performs "Arti" and 3 rounds of "Parikrama", which is then followed by all other devotees.  The "Havan" uplifts the spirits bringing a sense of tranquility and joy.

The next programme begins at 10:00a.m and continues till the end of day. This day devotees can spend more time with Swamiji and seek his blessings for the year ahead. Swamiji blesses each and every devotee with a packet of "vibuti" (ashes) / "kumkum"(saffron powder), a coin, Prasad, smears a tilak on the forehead and gives flowers for offering to Hanuman deity. To some he would advise on current problems and give direction, which would soon relieve devotees of their current worries.

While devotes seek blessings in the hall, some others who have volunteered to manage, decorate and cook "Prasad", start their tasks soon after the "Havan".
They adorn the hall with decorations usually coloured in red or saffron since it is considered as Hanumanji's favourite colour. While the hall is being decorated, others are engaged in preparations for the "Prasad" in the kitchen. The Prasad meal packets are served twice at lunch and dinner, cooked freshly for the devotees. 

Everyone attends the function with their families and enjoy the "Bhajans", which continue throughout the day. Together all devotees celebrate Hanumanj's Birthday, filling themselves with immense energies, bringing prosperity and success to their entire family.