Ramnavami 2023 : Unveiling the Divine Birth of Lord Rama: An Enchanting Tale of Ramnavami

Ram Navami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Hindu lunar year or Chaitra month Sukla Paksha Navami, which usually falls in March or April. Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who came to earth in human form to fight the invincible Ravana. The story of Rama was first written by Valmiki around the 4th century BC. Rama is believed to have lived during the 8th or 7th century BC. The epic known as Ramayana.

Birth Story of Lord Rama:

• The country of Kosala was situated on the banks of the river Sharyu. Ayodhya was the capital founded by King Rishi Manu. During the reign of King Dasharatha, Ayodhya reached a period of great prosperity. But Dasharatha faced a major problem: he had no children. So he decided to perform a yajna known as "Ashwamedha" or horse sacrifice. Elaborate and difficult rituals had to be followed. A very pious man, Rishi Rishyasringa, was chosen to perform the sacrifice with utmost precision. The performance of this sacrifice was a great event in Ayodhya.
• At the end Rishyasringa recited the mantra and offered to Agni. Then the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Rishis began to pray to the ever present Brahma.
• At that time Ravana, the king of Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and all yearned for relief from his terror. Ravana attained great power because he received a boon from Lord Brahma that he would never die at the hands of devas, gandharvas, or yakshas (gods) or demons. As he did not fear men he did not care to include men in his list of potential assassins. So Lord Brahma declared that Ravana would die at the hands of man. Then the gods went to Vishnu with a request, “Dasaratha is a glorious king. Please take birth in the wombs of his three queens in four different aspects of your divinity.”
• When Dasharatha's sacrifice was over, a shining figure appeared at the sacrificial pool and gave the king a divine drink called "Payasam" to give to his queens Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. In due course Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata and Sumitra to Lakshmana and Shatrugana. Rama was born on the midday of the ninth day of Chaitra. He was considered to be the embodiment of half of Vishnu's divinity, (Ardha Vamsa).
  

Celebrate:

• The festival of Ramnavami is celebrated with great devotion across the country and each region has its own regional significance behind the celebration. Ayodhya is the center of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days. Rathayatras or 'chariot processions' of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman are taken out from many temples.
• Excerpts from Ramacharitmanas are recited praising the glory of Rama. Public worship begins with a morning bath, chanting of Vedic mantras dedicated to Vishnu, and offering flowers and fruits to the Lord. People fast all day, breaking only at midnight with fruit.
• Ram Navami is a gazetted holiday in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh.
• In South India "Sri Ramnavami Utsavam" is celebrated for nine days with great fervor and devotion.
• Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) are the main places where you can witness grand celebrations of this occasion. Thousands of devotees and tourists from different countries throng these places to experience the religious excitement during Ramnavami.

Ceremonies:

• The house is cleaned and decorated. Prasad (offerings) of fruits and sweets are given to Lord Rama in the temple.
• The youngest female member of the household leads the puja by applying red tilak to all the other members of the family. The whole family chants Ram Charit Manas Shloka along with Jai Shri Ram.
• Some people do not eat certain foods, including meat, eggs, onions, garlic, some spices, and wheat products. Yogurt, milk, tea, coffee and water are also allowed along with fruits and vegetables.