Hanuman Jayanti (appearance or birthday of Lord Hanuman) was celebrated last Wednesday evening with traditional puja, bhajans, kirtan singing, reading from the scriptures, and speeches in Mandirs in USA and other parts of the diaspora. Some devout worshippers observed the auspicious day on Thursday.
Hanuman Jayanti is a holiday (Thursday) in India and is usually celebrated in the Spring on the night of the full moon in the month of April. Hanuman is worshipped to obtain or gain strength, valour, wisdom and knowledge. Worshipping Hanuman also provides control over mind and soul and provides power of self-control. Hanuman is known as a devout follower of Lord Rama.
Guyanese, in traditional Indian wear, thronged to the mandirs in the US and Canada as was similarly observed at mandirs in Guyana, Trinidad, and elsewhere. Surinamese and nationals from India, Fiji, etc. have their own mandirs similar to how Indian nationals and Indo-Caribbeans have their own mandirs in the US. Other Hindus are integrated as a community somewhat similar to how Indo-Trinis and Indo-Guyanese are integrated in the U.S. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in much the same way in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, Canada, Holland elsewhere in the diaspora.
Hanuman Jayanti is very auspicious for Hindus as Hanuman is a most important deity, savior of Latchman and the festival is observed by virtually every Hindu regardless of nationality. It is believed that Lord Shiva wanted to worship Rama and so incarnated as Hanuman to be with Rama. Lord Krishna also has faith in him and flew a Hanuman flag on his chariot when he fought in battles.
In the Ramayana, Hanuman is presented as a figure with great devotion, strength, knowledge, divine power, bravery, intelligence, spirit and one who performed selfless service. He devoted his life only to his Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. He is a dedicated disciple of Rama, who is worshipped world over by Hindus with deep devotion.
Because of his unflinching devotion and faithfulness to Ram, the Lord urged Hindus to worship Hanuman before they pray to him. Thus, not surprisingly, Temples or mandirs were richly decorated with red flowers and other red decorations. The Mandirs were crowded with worshippers. The Hanuman murthi, the emblem in Hinduism through which God is propitiated, was decorated in sweet-smelling ornate red malas. Devotees made offerings and performed aarte.
As in Guyana, puja was conducted early morning after a holy bath; service was conducted throughout the day. In NY and the Western advanced countries, Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated in the evening as people had to attend to their jobs.
He is usually worshipped on Tuesdays and Saturdays. But Hanuman Jayanti can fall on any day which is good for Hanuman puja. People worship Lord Hanuman because he is a symbol of devotion and loyalty to Lord Rama. Hanuman had magical mystical powers, and is a symbol of strength and energy.
People read Hanuman Chalisa, a scripture. At the mandir, people chanted mantras and sang Aarti songs, and performed oblations and many other ritualistic aspects of worshipping. Prasad was distributed to the gathering and bhojan served.
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