Rama Navami:
Ram Navami is the birthday celebration of Lord Ram. According to the Hindu calendar, Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Chaitra month which is also the last day of Chaitra Navratri. Hence, Ram Navami holds special importance. Ram Navami is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm throughout India. The festival is a grand celebration in Northern India, especially in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Significance of Rama Navami:
Ram Navami signifies the arrival of divine power on the earth. It was the day when Lord Vishnu was born as the elder son of Dasharath, the King of Ayodhya. On this day, the devotees of Lord Rama perform elaborate rituals. The purpose of the birth of Rama was to destroy the evil spirit of Ravana. Hence, the celebration of Ram Navami glorifies the power of religion, and it reflects the conflict between good and evil. A celebration of the Ram Navami festival indicates the removal of negativity and the rise of divine power on the earth. To remove the Asura from the earth and to maintain the Dharma, Lord Vishnu was born as Lord Rama.
Celebrations and Rituals:
The day of Ram Navami begins with the offering of prayer to the Sun. The Sun symbolizes power. Sun is believed to be Lord Rama’s ancestor. Hence, praying to the Sun at the beginning of that day to seek the blessing of supreme power is auspicious. Devotees of Rama celebrate the day by singing devotional songs, listening to recitations from religious books, and chanting Vedic hymns. Preachers also preach sermons from religious texts. All of these practices make people aware of the difference between right and wrong. Followers of Lord Rama keep a fast for the whole day. It helps to purify the body system. At the end of the day, devotees break the fast after having fruits and sweets. The chariot procession is an indispensable part of the Ram Navami festival. The devotees place the images of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman in a decorated chariot and carry out a procession on the streets. Taking a holy bath in the sacred river of Saryu in Ayodhya is a part of the rituals of this ceremony. The Hindus believe that this holy bath purifies the body and soul. In Southern parts of India, this event is celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Lord Ram and Sita.
