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Chinmaya Mission Marks 75 Years With Record Durban Hanuman Gathering
Many thousands of people came together at a big stadium in Durban, South Africa to celebrate something very special.
The Chinmaya Mission, a Hindu spiritual group, has been helping people for 75 years.
To celebrate, they held a big event where everyone chanted a famous prayer called the Hanuman Chalisa together.
Singers Anup Jalota and Anuja Sahai led the chanting, and the whole stadium joined in with great joy.
Everyone wore or waved saffron flags that said 'I Am A Proud Hindu.'
A spiritual leader named Swami Abhedananda spoke to the crowd and made everyone feel proud of their faith.
The leader of the local province, Premier Thami Ntuli, also came and joined in the celebration.
Volunteers worked very hard to cook and give out food, including more than 20,000 meal boxes.
They also made 27,000 sweet treats called Rhots to share with everyone.
It was a day about faith, happiness, and being together as one big family.
More than 17,000 devotees gathered at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban for the 'Man to Hanuman' programme, far exceeding the expected 10,000 attendees.
The event was part of the global Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav marking 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission.
The Hanuman Chalisa chanting was led by Padma Shri Anup Jalota and singer-actor Anuja Sahai, with devotees waving saffron 'I Am A Proud Hindu' flags.
2026 marks 20 years of Swami Abhedananda's spiritual service in South Africa, making him the longest-serving Hindu monk from India in Africa.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli attended the event, waving the flag and congratulating Chinmaya Mission on its 75 years of service.
Nearly 200 volunteers helped manage the crowd, and volunteers prepared over 20,000 meal boxes and 27,000 Rhots for devotees.
- Who
- Chinmaya Mission South Africa led by Swami Abhedananda, with singers Padma Shri Anup Jalota and Anuja Sahai, about 17,000 devotees, and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli.
- What
- A 'Man to Hanuman' programme featuring a massive collective recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa to mark 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission.
- Where
- Chatsworth Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
- When
- In 2026, during the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Chinmaya Movement.
- Why
- To celebrate 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission and Swami Abhedananda's 20 years of service, while uniting Hindus in pride of their spiritual identity.
Key facts
- Organiser
- Chinmaya Mission South Africa
- Event Name
- Man to Hanuman
- Occasion
- Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav - 75 years of Chinmaya Mission
- Attendance
- 17,000+ devotees (10,000 expected)
- Venue
- Chatsworth Stadium, Durban
- Chant Leaders
- Padma Shri Anup Jalota and Anuja Sahai
- Meal Boxes Prepared
- 20,000+ distributed as Mahaprasad
- Volunteers
- Nearly 200 for crowd management; ~100 for meal preparation
Sources
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