‘Man to HANUMAN’ – Hosted by Chinmaya Mission South Africa

5th July 2026 is a date which will be etched in the history of Africa and remembered across the world. On this day, the ‘Man to HANUMAN’ event hosted by Chinmaya Mission South Africa became the most unprecedented & historic spiritual gathering of the continent which brought 17,000+ Hindus from across the nation to chant 27 rounds of Hanuman Chalisa in one voice, aa one community, with one identity, one faith, and one pride.

The entire city of Durban felt taken over by a sea of saffron as the immeasurable congregation waved thousands of Hindu flags at the end of each chanting with great fervour and emotion, led by Swami Abhedananda Sarasvati (Head, Chinmaya Mission South Africa). Each flag adorned an image of Lord Hanuman & read ‘I Am A Proud Hindu’. This faithful assertion was at the centre of Swami Abhedananda’s vision to unite all South African Hindus beyond their age-old divides of language or Indian states of origin, and uplift them from fear & insecurity towards pride & positivity in their religious identity. This was South Africa’s tribute to H.H. Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s goal to ‘transform Hindus to Hinduism’, and to the 75th anniversary celebrations of the global Chinmaya Movement this year.

Leading the chants with his melodious voice & wide appeal was Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota, accompanied by the talented singer-actor Anuja Sahai. Devotees admired Shri Anup Jalota’s reverence and close bond with Swamiji and were enthralled to hear the great maestro’s renditions of the Hanuman Chalisa in various ragas. Towards the last two rounds, the entire crowd of 17,000+ stood up in their seats as did Swamiji on stage. Tears flowed, 10,000 saffron flags were waved, and more than 400,000 total chants of the Hanuman Chalisa were completed.

Among several dignitaries in attendance, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr Thami Ntuli was the guest of honour. The Mission is pleased to receive his goodwill and inclusive support, as he also waved the saffron flag and was seen reading the Hanuman Chalisa too. The Premier appreciated Chinmaya Mission’s 75-year-long legacy and recognized Chinmaya Mission South Africa’s contributions to South African society under Swamiji’s guidance.

The event was a truly magical logistical success as countless Chinmaya Sevaks ensured smooth crowd control, accessible parking, meals for all attendees, and other assistance. From 11PM the last night to 11AM on the event day, volunteers worked tirelessly to cook & pack nearly 20,000 full lunch meals to ensure none leave the venue without food, and in preparation for an unexpectedly larger crowd. As the wave of Lord Hanuman took over the nation, the footfall was indeed almost twice the original target of 10,000. Over 5,000 people came in 85 buses from across 5 provinces of South Africa. Alongside this, countless volunteers cooked day & night for a full week before the event to prepare 27,000 rohts (a sweet delicacy used in local Hindu rituals) for a monumental, record-breaking offering to Lord Hanuman. These were then distributed as prasad to devotees at the event.

The presence of all deities and greats saints, and Lord Hanuman’s glory have been spread to thousands of Hindu homes now as each attendee received a gift bag containing spiritual books, altar photos of Lord Hanuman, a copy of Hanuman Chalisa, and energized Sindoor Prasad.

More than a religious gathering, the historic event became a powerful celebration of devotion, unity, service, and cultural pride. As over 17,000 Hindus stood together beneath an ocean of saffron flags chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, Chinmaya Mission South Africa created a defining moment in the history of Africa and in the global discourse on Sanatana Dharma.

(This Press Release has been published as received)