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Sri Rama Navami Festival Page | Diwali| Ganesha Chathurthi| Rama Navami | Sivaratri | Vishu
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic of 24,000 stanzas. A continuous recital of the book takes place for about a week prior to the celebration and on the day itself, the highlights of the story are read in the temple. Rituals and ceremoniesThe house is thoroughly cleaned on Rama Navami and is also decorated. Offerings of fruit and flowers are placed on the family shrine and after an early bath, prayers are recited. The youngest female member of the household leads the puja (prayers) by applying a red tilak (mark) to all the other members of the family before everyone joins together in worship. An image or picture of baby Rama is placed in a covered cradle. At noon the covering is removed and Prasad (special sacred food) is offered to Rama, which may then be shared amongst the congregation. There is an element of fasting. Some people don't eat certain foods, particularly things like onions, garlic, some spices and wheat products. The festival is a focal point for moral reflection and being especially charitable to others. Celebrations at places associated with Sri Rama, like Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and Ramesvaram in Tamil Nadu, attract thousands of devotees. - BBC Why do we celebrate Rama Navami? Lord Rama was born on the ninth day of the month of Chitra, hence we celebrate his birthday as a 'Navami'. Indian mathematicians and philosophers see nine as a magical number. Planets in our solar system are also nine, as are the main forms of goddess Durga and the ways of bhakti - devotion. Let us consider why we celebrate Rama-Navami, by considering nine of Lord Rama's great characteristics / virtues." Actions speak louder than Words " was Rama's chief motto. He embodied all the virtues by practising what he preached. More than his divine powers, his glorious heritage or his incredible prowess was his unblemished, untarnished, irreproachable character. His popularity, bravery, courage in face of all adversities, kindness, sense of justice, obedience, intelligence, limitless patience, boundless compassion and steadfast following of duty / "dharma" have endeared him to countless generations of Hindus and non-Hindus alike. More....The Story of Lord Ramachandra Sreeramachandra is one of the most beloved Hindu Gods and is the hero of our great epic, the Ramayana. Millions of Hindus read the hundreds of stories in the epic and derive immense satisfaction recalling the trials and tribulations the young prince of Ayodhya experienced in the 14 exile of leading to the slaying of the demon Raavana, recovery of his beloved consort Sita and finally His coronation as the emperor of India of lore. As a story Ramayana is superb. No matter what chapter one reads, one is struck with the depth of human feeling, human nature and the eternal conflicts among values. More.... More...
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