The Sri Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple on Mysuru road celebrates Hanuman Jayanti three times in a year —once in April, once in the June-July period and then a grand Kannadiga celebration in December.
A throng of people gather in the ‘Garbhagudi’ at the Sri Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple where the main idol stands decked in the diamond studded ‘kavacham’ which glints even in the dim light. A larger idol stands under the shamiyana that is adorned with flowers on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. It will be opened for the public in the evening.
Hanuman Jayanti is the birth of Hanuman. In the puranas, it is said that on the tenth of the Vaishad masam(month) hanuman was born which falls somewhere between June and July of the English calendar, said a priest.
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April 6th is recognised as Hanuman Jayanti in the northern part of India. The southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana observe Hanuman Jayanti in the month of June and July. The grandest celebration in the temple of three is the one celebrated in December, Karnataka’s Hanuman Jayanti.
But, Sri Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple celebrates it on all three occasions. This is because in Bengaluru, there are people from all over the country. A temple priest said that many North Indians as well as few locals visit the temple on this day to celebrate it. He added that they celebrate the festival three times in a year to cater to everyone who celebrates it.
Dr Chandrashekar, a sociology professor said that festivals play an important role in maintaining the unity of communities in the society. The Sri Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple caters to the diversity of the country and maintains the festive mood for everyone who celebrates the festival, the priests at the temple said.
A temple trustee said that the American diamond ‘Vajra Kavacham’ is on display once a year. This year, it has been put up for three days that is from Apr. 5 to Apr. 7. Last week, they even held a Hanuman Jayanti Jatara.
Hanuman devotees at the temple said that they look forward to the December ceremony. In December the whole temple is lit up and decorated with flowers. The significance of celebrating it in December is that it is called ‘Hanuman Vratam’ and it is when Hanuman sees Sita in Lanka and informs Rama.
