Hanuman Puja on Wednesday 18th October 2017
Hanuman Puja Timings:
Chaturdashi Tithi Starts = 00:08 on 18-October-2017
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends = 00:13 on 19-October-2017
About Hanuman Puja:
Hanuman Puja is performed on the day before Diwali Puja, in some states of India, especially in Gujarat. Hanuman Puja and Kali Chaudas fall on the same day. There is a belief that bad spirits are most powerful in the night of Kali Chaudas. Lord Hanuman Puja is performed to seek strength, power and the protection from all kinds of bad spirits.
As per another legend, Diwali is celebrated to pay homage to the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after completing His fourteen years of exile and defeating demon Ravana. Lord Sri Rama was highly pleased by the devotion and dedication of Hanuman so that that He blessed Hanuman that he would be worshipped before Him. That is why people worship God Hanuman one day before Diwali celebrations.
Shri Hanuman Jayanti is observed at Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya on the very same day. However, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated by most people in North India on the day of Chaitra Purnima.