Ram Navami is an important Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who killed the demon King Ravana and freed thousands of humans and his wife, Sita. It is celebrated every year on the 9th day of the bright fortnight in Chaitra month according to the Hindu Calendar. Hence, it is also called Chaitra Maas Shukla Paksha Navami. A public holiday is declared on this day in most parts of India.
The Story of the Birth of Lord Rama:
In Treta Yuga, Dashrath was the king of Ayodhya. He had three wives, viz. Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. He belonged to the clan of the sun known as Suryavanshi. Dasharatha was a great king, and he had helped gods defeat demons in a battle. He had everything in his life, but he did not have an heir for his kingdom. So, he performed a Putra-Kameshthi Yagya (a ritual performed with a desire for a son).
After being pleased with this ritual, the god of fire appeared from Yagya and gave him kheer (an Indian dessert containing rice or similar ingredients and sugar boiled in milk). King Dashrath distributed the kheer among his three wives. After this, all his three wives became pregnant and gave birth to children. Rama was born to queen Kaushalya and was the eldest of all. Sumitra gave birth to Laxman and Shatrughna, and Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat.
Who was Lord Rama?
Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He was the eldest son of King Dasharatha and Kaushalya. To fulfill his father’s promise, he abandoned his kingdom and left for the forest, along with his wife and brother. Ravana forcefully abducted his wife, Seeta, and kept her in prison. With the help of the army of apes, Lord Rama defeated Ravana and freed his wife and other prisoners.
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How is Ram Navami Celebrated?
As Lord Rama is believed to be born at midday, a special prayer is performed at this time on the day of Shri Ram Navami. People sing devotional songs in praise of Lord Rama and rock the cradle, withholding the image of Lord Rama as a child. They held chariot processions of images of Lord Rama in many temples. Many people observe fast on this day. This festival is celebrated for nine days in some places in India and is known as Chaitra Navratri. Devotional songs (Bhajans and kirtans) are sung for nine days. Food and clothes are donated to the poor. Some Hindus read Ramayana during these days.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama. Thousands of people bathe in the river Sharayu on this occasion. Other than Ayodhya, thousands of devotees gather in Rameswaram, Ujjain, and other places in India.
Lord Rama is one of the most popular deities of Hindus. He is ideal for all Hindu society because of his characteristics like righteousness, honesty, an ideal king, an ideal son, and remaining honest with his wife only. He inherits the Sun dynasty.