Devotees throng temples on Hanuman Jayanti

ALLAHABAD: Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated with religious fervour in various temples of the city on Tuesday.
Celebrated during the month of Chaitra, Hanuman Jayanti is observed to commemorate the birth of Lord Hanuman. Since early morning, devotees flocked Hanuman temples to offer prayer. The devotees applied 'tilak' of 'Sindhoor' on their foreheads from the Hanuman's idol as it is considered to bring good luck.
According to the legend, Sita was applying 'sindoor' on her forehead, when Lord Hanuman asked about its relevance. Sita replied that it was meant to ensure long life for her husband. Lord Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindoor, in an effort to ensure Rama's immortality, said Dr Ram Naresh Tripathi.
Various temples of the city were decorated on the occasion, including Bade Hanuman ji of the Civil Lines, Bade Hanumanji of Sangam along with smaller temples like the one opposite Allahabad High Court and PAC Lines of Dhoomanganj. The temple in the vicinity of Chauphatka, one of the temples of the city wherein the idol of Hanuman faces Westward, was also decorated on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
Although, people were seen visiting these temples since early morning, as the evening progressed devotees formed a beeline to offer prayers and sweets to their deity. Large number of devotees thronged the Bade Hanumanji temple of the Civil Lines where special prayers, praising Lord Rama and Hanuman were held. Attended by large number of devotees, special 'Shobha Yatra' was taken out at Chowk and Katra locality, wherein devotees passed various roads and sang bhajans of Hanuman and Lord Rama.