Hanuman Jayanti is a widely celebrated festival across India and is observed with great devotion and joy. Preparations for the festival are already underway in many households. This day marks the birth of Lord Hanuman and is also known as Hanuman Janmotsav (Hanuman's birth celebration). Every year, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) of the Hindu month of Chaitra. In 2026, the festival will be celebrated on April 2.
It is believed that offering prayers to Lord Hanuman with true devotion on this day helps remove obstacles from life and brings strength, courage and peace of mind. For this reason, he is worshipped as Sankatmochan, the remover of troubles. On Hanuman Jayanti, devotees perform special prayers and rituals at home or in temples to seek his blessings. Many also organise the recitation of the Sundarkand as part of the celebrations.
On this auspicious day, some devotees observe a Nirjala (waterless) fast or a Phalahar (fruit-based) fast. This practice is considered sacred and is believed to bring mental calm and spiritual growth. During the fast, onion and garlic are strictly avoided. Instead, only Sattvic food is consumed, and rock salt (sendha namak) is used in place of regular salt. To please Lord Hanuman, devotees prepare various food offerings (bhog), such as boondi and laddoos, and offer them during prayers. Here are some traditional bhog recipes that you can easily prepare at home this Hanuman Jayanti.
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Hanuman Jayanti 2026: 5 Traditional Recipes For Bhog
Sweet Boondi
Mix gram flour (besan) with water to make a smooth batter and add saffron-coloured food colouring. Heat ghee in a pan and fry the batter using a slotted ladle to form boondi. Prepare a one-string sugar syrup by boiling sugar and water, then add cardamom powder. Soak the fried boondi in the syrup for around 15 minutes before removing it. Click here for recipe.
Besan Ladoo
Roast gram flour (besan) in desi ghee until aromatic. Allow it to cool, then add powdered sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well and shape the mixture into round ladoos using your palms. Click here for recipe.
Kheer
Boil rice with milk and cook on a low flame until the rice softens and the milk thickens. Add sugar, cardamom powder and dry fruits. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely. Garnish with almonds and pistachios before serving. Click here for recipe.
Jalebi
Prepare a batter using refined flour and yoghurt and allow it to ferment. Transfer the batter to a piping bag, make a small cut at the tip and pipe thin spirals into hot oil. Fry on a medium flame until golden. Remove and immediately soak the jalebis in sugar syrup. Click here for recipe.
Churma
Add generous ghee (moyan) to wheat flour and knead into a stiff dough. Roll out thick rotis and roast them on a griddle or bake them in an oven. Break the rotis once cooled and grind them into a coarse powder. Mix with powdered sugar or jaggery and desi ghee. Click here for recipe.
If you are unable to prepare any of these dishes, you can simply mix roasted chickpeas (bhuna chana) with jaggery and offer it as bhog to Lord Hanuman. This Hanuman Jayanti, celebrate the festival with devotion by preparing these traditional offerings at home.