Ram Navami is a Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Ram, the deity Vishnu’s seventh avatar. The festival commemorates the birth of Lord Ram to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya, India. This festival falls on the ninth day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of Chaitra, and is part of the Chaitra Navaratri in the spring. Ram Navami is a big celebration all over Nepal.
The day is marked by Ram Katha recitals or reading of Ram stories, such as the Hindu epic Ramayana, which narrates Lord Ram’s journey of saving his wife from a demon king. Some devotees commemorate the occasion by washing and dressing miniature statues of the infant Ram and placing them in cradles. For many Hindus, the festival represents an opportunity for moral introspection. This day is observed by some as Brata (fasting).
On this day, important celebrations take place at Ayodhya and at other Ram temples around Nepal. Rathyatras, or chariot processions, of Ram, Sita, his brother Lakshman, and Hanuman are performed at various locations. Many people in Ayodhya take a dip in the sacred Saarayu River before visiting the Ram temple.
There is a Ram temple on a hilltop near Battisputali, Kathmandu, that is generally busy on this day. Janakpur is also magnificently decorated, as it has Ram-Janaki Temple. Hundreds of people travel to Janakpur from all around Nepal and India.
Devotees take a dip at Gandasagar’s holy pond before worshipping at the Ram temple, which is located just across the pond. As Sita was born in Janakpur, Ram Navami is celebrated with great jubilation on this day.
Why is Ram Navami celebrated?
Ram Navami is held to commemorate Lord Ram’s birth to King Dasharath of Ayodhya. King Dashratha was said to have three queens: Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. For a long period, the three queens were unable to have children.
A sage, Vasishtha, advised king Dashratha to undertake a sacred ceremony known as ‘Putrakameshti Yagna’. During the ritual, the monarch offered ‘Payasam’ to all his wives in order to fulfil his desire to have a child. As a result, on the ninth day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, the monarch was bestowed with a baby son. Queen Kaushalya bore Lord Ram, while the other queens bore Lakshmana and Bharata.
Ram Navami is one of the five major Hindu festivals observed by the people all over the country. Lord Ram is thought to be Lord Vishnu’s seventh avatar. This day is observed by Hindus by visiting temples, fasting, and seeking Lord Ram’s blessings. This spring festival plainly promotes the theme of good triumphing over evil.
photo credit: www.dekhnews.com
Also Read
.jpg)
 (1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
