Ram Navami Celebrations In All India

Ram Navami is around the corner the time of the year when celebration can be felt through chants of Jai Shree Ram. Marking the birth of Maryada Purushottam Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Ram Navami is not only one of the most important Hindu festivals in India but is also the most popular celebration amongst tourists, who travel across the states to witness this dynamic festival. According to the Hindu calendar, the celebration comes on the 9th day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. This year, 2022, Ram Navami will be celebrated on 10th April. Ram Navami is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm.

Birth of Lord Rama

The country of Kosal was situated on the banks of the river Sharayu. Ayodhya was the capital founded by the king rishi Manu. During the reign of king Dasarath, Ayodhya reached a period of great prosperity. But Dasarath faced a big problem he had no children. Therefore he decided to perform a sacrifice known as ashvamedh, or horse-sacrifice. Elaborate and difficult rituals had to be observed. A very holy man, rishi Rishyashring, was chosen to conduct the sacrifice with the utmost accuracy. The performance of this sacrifice was a great event in Ayodhya. At the end Rishyashring recited a mantra and made an offering to the fire. Then the gods, gandharvas, siddhas, and rishis present arid began to pray to Brahma. At that time Ravan, king of Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and all were longing for liberation from his menace. Ravan had acquired great power because he had obtained from god Brahma the boon that he would never die at the hands of gods, or gandharvas, or yakshas demigods or demons.

Celebration

The festival of Ramnavami is celebrated with great devotion across the nation and every region has its own regional significance behind the celebration. Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days. Ratha yatras or chariot processions of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples. Excerpts from the Ramacharitamanas, extolling the glory of Rama, are recited. The public worship starts with morning ablutions, chanting Vedic mantras dedicated to Vishnu, and offering flowers and fruit to the god. People keep a fast throughout the day, breaking it only at midnight with fruit.

Celebration in different states

Few of the best places to visit during Ram Navami are,

1. Ayodhya

Being the birthplace of Lord Rama, and recognized as one of the holiest towns in India, Ayodhya celebrates Ram Navami with great enthusiasm During Ram Navami, a constant stream of music, and dhol set off to celebrate the festival. The temples, houses, shops illuminate with a gorgeous line of diyas and candles, which is beautiful to behold. Apart from that, the lavish pandals are also set up during Ram Navami.

2. Bihar

Sitamarhi, Bihar is another prime attraction to witness the celebration of Ram Navami. Known as the birthplace of goddess Sita, Ram Navami can also be enjoyed in Sitamarhi with a great zeal, as Goddess Sita is honored as the patron deity of Sitamarhi. A large number of devotees visit Sitamarhi, especially to admire the beauty of the Janki Mandir during Ram Navami.

3. Telengana

Located on the banks of the Godavari river, renowned for its 17th century-old Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple, Bhadrachalam is a small town in Telangana, and one of the best places to witness Ram Navami in India. It is also called Dakshina Ayodhya. In Bhadrachalam the zealous follower of Lord Rama celebrates this day as the wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and goddess Sita as Sitarama Kalyanam. Though the celebration lasts for nine days here, Navami as the last day accords with the marriage of Rama and Sita, which is very popular in Bhadrachalam.

4. Rameswaram

As one of India’s holy cities, Rameswaram, especially famous for its association with Ramayana, is known to ring in the Ram Navami celebration with utmost pompous. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Rameshwaram is the place where Vanarsena built the floating bridge Ram Setu, Which helped Lord Ram to reach Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. During the eve of Ram Navami Sri KothandaramaSwamy Temple in Rameswaram becomes a beauty to behold.

5. Andhra Pradesh

Vontimitta is a small town in Andhra Pradesh, which celebrates Ram Navi with a great heart. Renowned for its 450 years old Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple, which was built by the two robbers Vontudu and Mittudu, who transformed into stone after constructing the temple. They later become the followers of Lord Rama. Sri Kondandarama Swamy temple is the official venue, where the celebration of Ram Navami can be witnessed.

6. Maharashtra

Celebrated with the great enthusiasm, Ram Navami is among the three main festivals that are celebrated in Shirdi, the other two being Guru Purnima and Vijaya Dashmi. Sri Ram Navami is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Rama throughout India while Shirdi has got a distinct reason that is associated with Baba and his devotees. According to legends once a devotee of Sai Baba was childless for several years and after many years of prayers he was blessed with a child.

7. Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh

Celebrations of Ram Navami Festival begin early in the morning with a prayer to the Sun. A special prayer is performed at midday when Lord Rama is believed to have been born. Some parts of Madhya Pradesh also organize processions to commemorate this event. The main attraction in these processions is a gaily-decorated chariot where four persons are seated who are dressed as Rama, his queen Sita, Ramas brother Laxman and his disciple, Hanuman.

8. Odisha

Thousands of devotees thronged various temples across Odisha on Thursday on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Ram. A large number of devotees gathered at different shrines in villages and cities in the State to offer their prayers to Lord Rama. Sri Ram temple in Bhubaneswar also witnessed huge rush of devotees on the occasion. Special rituals will be performed at Srimandir in Puri during the occasion of holy Ram Navami today. The pilgrim town is all set to celebrate Sahi Jata, a unique tradition linked to Jagannath culture.

9. Odisha, Jharkhand & West Bengal

In eastern Indian states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, the Jagannath temples and regional Vaishnava community observe Rama Navami, and treat it as the day when preparations begin for their annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra in summer. 15 Devotees associated with ISKCON fast through the daylight hours.