Shri Rama Navami – Celebrating the Birth of Lord Rama
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type="flexslider_fade" interval="3" images="4524,4516,4517,4518,4525,4519,4520,4521" onclick="link_image" custom_links_target="_self" img_size="957x450"][vc_column_text]Lord Rama, the embodiment of perfection, was born to King Dashratha and Queen Kaushalya on Ram Navami. Every year Ram Navami, is celebrated by Hindus, marking the coming of the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and destroying the evil demon king Raavana. This year it happens to be on April 8th.
Raam Navami falls on Navami or ninth day beginning from Amavasya or no moon day in the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu calendar.
People celebrate Ram Navami through recitals of the Akhand Paath from Ramcharitramanas, bhajans, kirtans, other poojas and aarti, as well as distribution of ‘Prasaad’ (holy offering from God).
Images of Lord Rama are placed in cradles and kept in temples and homes to be rocked and worshipped.
Traditional prayers are offered with fruits and flowers in the morning with the celebration and chanting of hymns reaching its peak close to afternoon when he was supposed to be born. Many also observe fast on this day.
There are a few places in India where this celebration takes on a special note.
Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi in Bihar, Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu are places where the temples of Lord Rama are filled with thousands of devotees and special poojas are offered to the chants of the Lord’s name.
Bhadrachalam in the South of India, specially observes this also as the day of Sitarama Kalyanam or the day their marriage took place, since the period also coincides with this auspicious occasion.
The marriage ritual is conducted at temples across South India with the chanting of Lord Rama’s name.
In Ayodhya thousands take a dip in the holy river Sarayu and Rath yatras with the idols of Gods Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and ardent devotee and monkey God Hanuman are placed on chariots and driven all round the city.
As with every festival, Ram Navami is specially marked by
- Offerings to the Lord through chanting of hymns and devotional songs in temples and marked public places
- Kalyanam or the marriage of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita performed in many temples in the South
- The colourful processions with idols and even small children dressed as these gods and taken round in chariots.
- The offering of Panaka, made of jaggery and pepper to friends and relatives who visit in the evening
- Exchange of greetings and good wishes for the occasion towards the evening.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Raam Navami falls on Navami or ninth day beginning from Amavasya or no moon day in the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu calendar.
People celebrate Ram Navami through recitals of the Akhand Paath from Ramcharitramanas, bhajans, kirtans, other poojas and aarti, as well as distribution of ‘Prasaad’ (holy offering from God).
Images of Lord Rama are placed in cradles and kept in temples and homes to be rocked and worshipped.
Traditional prayers are offered with fruits and flowers in the morning with the celebration and chanting of hymns reaching its peak close to afternoon when he was supposed to be born. Many also observe fast on this day.
There are a few places in India where this celebration takes on a special note.
Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi in Bihar, Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu are places where the temples of Lord Rama are filled with thousands of devotees and special poojas are offered to the chants of the Lord’s name.
Bhadrachalam in the South of India, specially observes this also as the day of Sitarama Kalyanam or the day their marriage took place, since the period also coincides with this auspicious occasion.
The marriage ritual is conducted at temples across South India with the chanting of Lord Rama’s name.
In Ayodhya thousands take a dip in the holy river Sarayu and Rath yatras with the idols of Gods Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and ardent devotee and monkey God Hanuman are placed on chariots and driven all round the city.
As with every festival, Ram Navami is specially marked by
- Offerings to the Lord through chanting of hymns and devotional songs in temples and marked public places
- Kalyanam or the marriage of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita performed in many temples in the South
- The colourful processions with idols and even small children dressed as these gods and taken round in chariots.
- The offering of Panaka, made of jaggery and pepper to friends and relatives who visit in the evening
- Exchange of greetings and good wishes for the occasion towards the evening.
If the same spirit with which Ram Navami is celebrated each year continues wth increased fervour, maybe someday ‘Ram Rajya’ or ‘The land where all is peaceful and nothing can go wrong’ could become a reality.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
