Observing Hanuman Jayanti in NY, Holland and Guyana

Dear Editor,
Hanuman Jayanti (appearance or birthday of Lord Hanuman) was celebrated last Thursday and Friday evening with great enthusiasm in a cultural and traditional way by Guyanese Americans and other Hindus in the US and worldwide. There were issues with the day with some pandits contending it was Thursday evening and others saying Friday evening. Hanuman Jayanti is a holiday (Friday) in India and is usually celebrated in the Spring on the night of the full moon in the month of April. I celebrated the festival in Holland. Hanuman is worshipped to obtain strength, valour, wisdom and knowledge. Worshipping Hanuman also provides control over mind and soul and provides power of self-control.
Guyanese thronged to the mandirs in the US as was similarly observed at mandirs in Holland on Friday evening. Surinamese and nationals from India have their own mandirs similar to how Indian nationals and Indo-Caribbeans have their own mandirs in the US and UK. The small (Hindu) Guyanese population in Holland does not have their own mandirs but patronise Surinamese mandirs; they are integrated as a community somewhat similar to how Indo-Trinis and Indo-Guyanese are integrated in the US. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in much the same way in New York, Guyana and Holland. In the latter, discourse was in Hindi (or Bhojouri) and some explanation given in Dutch whereas in Guyana and NY discourse is read in Hindi and translated into English or Creolese. In India, the discourse is in Hindi and the language of the community.
Hanuman Jayanti is very auspicious for Hindus as Hanuman is a most important deity, and the festival is observed by virtually every Hindu regardless of state of origin in India. Lord Hanuman is a dedicated disciple of the Hindu God Rama, who is worshipped all over India by Hindus with deep devotion. Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to that god.
Because of his faithfulness to Lord Rama, the Lord urged Hindus to worship Hanuman before they pray to him. My experience celebrating Hanuman Jayanti in India was temples were richly decorated with red flowers and colourful (mostly red) flickering lights. Mandirs were crowded with worshippers. The Hanuman murthi was decorated in sweet-smelling ornate red malas. As in Guyana, in India 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. It is believed that Shiva wanted to worship Rama and so incarnated as Hanuman to be with Rama. 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 never showed his bravery and intelligence without any purpose. The devotees of the Lord Hanuman always pray him for getting blessed with the same for their bright future. Hanuman was a great warrior and army general who commandeered the forces for Rama against Ravan to liberate Sita who was kidnapped by Ravan’s army. Hanuman also procured the herbs (from a long distance) to restore the life of Rama’s brother, Lakshman, who was fatally wounded in battle. Hanuman saved the planets from destruction by evil forces. He was a celibate who wanted to serve humanity. He is usually worshipped on Tuesdays and Saturdays. But Hanuman Jayanti can fall on any day which is good for Hanuman puja. Lord Krishna also has faith in him and flew a Hanuman flag on his chariot when he fought in battles. 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 as it is about one’s ability to conquer evil spirits and provide peace to the mind. Hanuman loves red. And so the offerings to him are the same everywhere – red flowers, red cloth, rote (fried sweet roti), ladoo, and other sweets. 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.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram