In short
- Hanumad Vrata 2026
- Tuesday, 22 December 2026
- Tithi
- Margashirsha Shukla TrayodashiMargasira Shukla Trayodashi (amanta)
- Fast
- Many fast until the evening puje
- Observed for
- Courage, health and protection from fear
What is it? Karnataka’s vrata for Hanuman, on Trayodashi of the bright half of Margashira.
Why do families keep it? Hanuman — strength, devotion and service — is worshipped for courage and protection; Kishkindha, his home in the Ramayana, is placed around Hampi.
What happens on the day? A fast, puje with betel leaves and vada, tying the thirteen-knot thread, and reading Sundara Kanda or Hanuman Chalisa.
When to observe Hanumad Vrata in 2026
| Trayodashi tithi begins | Mon, 21 Dec, 05:37 PM |
|---|---|
| Trayodashi tithi ends | Tue, 22 Dec, 02:24 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:37 AM |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:55 AM – 12:41 PM |
| Sunset | 05:59 PM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 03:09 PM – 04:34 PM |
What Hanumad Vrata means
Kishkindha is here
The Ramayana’s Kishkindha is placed around Hampi on the Tungabhadra. Anjanadri hill across the river is held to be where Hanuman was born.
The thirteen knots
A yellow thread with thirteen knots is tied on the right wrist for men and left for women, and kept for a year — a vow renewed each Trayodashi.
A Karnataka date
Much of North India keeps Hanuman Jayanti on Chaitra Hunnime; Karnataka and the Telugu states keep this Margashira date as Hanumad Vrata.
Hanuman finds Sita
Who is in it: Sri Hanuman, Sita, Sri Rama, Ravana, Jambavan
When the search parties reached the southern sea, no one could cross it. Jambavan reminded Hanuman of the strength he had forgotten.
Hanuman grew huge and leapt across the ocean to Lanka, overcoming every obstacle on the way.
He searched the city by night and found Sita in the Ashoka grove, guarded and grieving. He showed her Rama’s ring and promised that Rama would come.
Before leaving, he let himself be captured, spoke to Ravana as Rama’s messenger, and set Lanka on fire with his burning tail. He returned with Sita’s chudamani for Rama.
What it teaches: Strength remembered and put to service is unbeatable. Humility does not mean forgetting what you can do.
Hanumad Vrata puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1Bathe early and take the sankalpa.
- 2Make or buy a yellow thread with thirteen knots.
The puja
- 1Do a Ganapati puje, then worship Hanuman with sindhura, betel leaves, flowers and a lamp.
- 2Keep the thirteen-knot thread before him and worship it.
- 3Offer naivedya — vada, a banana and jaggery.
- 4Read Sundara Kanda, or Hanuman Chalisa eleven times.
- 5Tie the thread on the wrist after the aarati.
Closing the puja
- 1Break the fast with prasada.
- 2Visit a Hanuman temple in the evening.
- 3Keep the thread for a year; release it in water before the next vrata.
What to keep ready for Hanumad Vrata
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow thread with 13 knots | 1 per person | The vrata thread |
| Sindhura (orange) and oil | A little | For Hanuman |
| Betel leaves | A bunch | A betel-leaf garland or offering |
| Vada, banana and jaggery | As needed | Naivedya |
| Lamp and agarbatti | 1 set | Aarati |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Sundara Kanda book | — | Reading during the day |
Family and regional customs
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Vada mala (garland of vadas) | — | Offered at many Karnataka Hanuman temples |
Keeping the Hanumad Vrata fast
The day before
- A sattvic meal the evening before.
On the fasting day
- Fast until the evening puje; fruit and milk are fine for most.
Ending the fast
- Break the fast with prasada after the puje.
If a full fast is not right for your health, phalahara (fruit and milk) or a single meal keeps the vrata just as truly. Ask your elders or our pandit.
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Read or listen to Sundara Kanda.
- Help someone with your strength — carry, lift, serve.
Best avoided
- Eat meat or drink alcohol on the vrata day.
- Lose your temper — Hanuman is strength without arrogance.
Chants for Hanumad Vrata
Manojavam
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम्।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಮನೋಜವಂ ಮಾರುತತುಲ್ಯವೇಗಂ ಜಿತೇನ್ದ್ರಿಯಂ ಬುದ್ಧಿಮತಾಂ ವರಿಷ್ಠಮ್।
ವಾತಾತ್ಮಜಂ ವಾನರಯೂಥಮುಖ್ಯಂ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮದೂತಂ ಶರಣಂ ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ॥
manojavaṃ mārutatulyavegaṃ jitendriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham| vātātmajaṃ vānarayūthamukhyaṃ śrīrāmadūtaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye||
What it means: Swift as the mind, fast as the wind, master of his senses, wisest of the wise, son of the Wind, chief of the vanaras, Rama’s messenger — in him I take refuge.
Hanumad Vrata from region to region
Hampi and Anjanadri
Pilgrims climb the 575 steps of Anjanadri hill; the area fills with bhajane.
Old Mysore
Vada mala and betel-leaf garlands at Hanuman temples; Sundara Kanda read in homes.
Andhra and Telangana
Hanumad Vratam with the same thirteen-knot thread.
Have the Hanumad Vrata puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda.
- Kishkindha and Anjanadri traditions of the Hampi region.
- Hanumad Vrata kalpa as kept in Karnataka and the Telugu states.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Bengaluru, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Hanumad Vrata 2026?
Tuesday, 22 December 2026. In Bengaluru, Margasira Shukla Trayodashi (amanta; Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi in the North Indian count) begins Mon, 21 Dec, 05:37 PM and ends Tue, 22 Dec, 02:24 PM IST.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Hanumad Vrata on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
Why is Hanuman Jayanti on a different day in the North?
Traditions differ. Much of North India keeps Chaitra Hunnime; Karnataka keeps Margashira Shukla Trayodashi as Hanumad Vrata. Both are honoured.