Overview
Hanuman Jayanti, also known as Hanuman Janmotsava, is a Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Hanuman, a central figure in the Ramayana and its various regional retellings. Within the tradition, Hanuman is revered as an ardent devotee of Rama and is widely regarded as a symbol of strength and unflinching devotion.
The observance of Hanuman Jayanti varies considerably across India, both in the timing and in the customs followed. In most of the northern states, the festival is observed on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, known as Chaitra Purnima.
In the Telugu-speaking states, the festival is celebrated on Bahula (Shukla Paksha) Dashami in the month of Vaishakha, according to the Telugu calendar. In Karnataka, it is observed on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi during the month of Margashirsha or, in some traditions, during Vaishakha. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the day is observed during the month of Dhanu, known as Margazhi in Tamil.
In the eastern state of Odisha, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Pana Sankranti, which also coincides with the Odia New Year. The diversity in dates reflects the regional calendars and local traditions through which the festival has been integrated into community life.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Hanuman Jayanti.