India and its states celebrate many Hindu festivals for every deity. Rama Navami is a popular Hindu festival celebrated across the country. The Hindus who settled in abroad countries also celebrate Rama Navami with the fullest joy. The birthday of Maryada Purshottam Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is grandly celebrated in his birthplace, Ayodhya. Sri Rama Navami is celebrated in between March and April. In North India, his birthday is carried with a Rath Yatra in Ayodhya. Lakhs of devotees from foreign countries flock here to attain the deity's blessings. In South India, the celebration ends with the wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita in Sri Rama Temples.
History of Rama Navami
The great Hindu epic Ramayana describes Sri Rama's birthday as the incarnation of Vishnu. The King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, which now lies in Uttar Pradesh, ruled the kingdom. He had three wives, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumithra. The King was saddened because he had no male progeny to carry on his heredity. At the time, sage Vasishta advised him to perform Putrakameshti Yagna, a sacred ritual to bless him with a male heir to the throne of his kingdom. He advised the King to request Maharshi Rishyasringa to perform the Yagna. As he advised, the King invited Maharshi Rishyasringa to conduct the Yagna. After the ritual, Maharshi gave the King a bowl of blessed Kheer. He gave it to his three wives.
Birth of Sri Rama
Some months later, all three queens got conceived. Sri Rama was born to Kausalya on Shukla Paksha Navami (9th day) of the Chaitra month. In the meantime, Bharath was born to Kaikeyi, and the twins Lakshman and Shatrughan were born to Sumithra. King Dasharatha was overwhelmed with happiness and informed his citizens that he was blessed with four boy babies. The elated citizens offered their heartiest prayers to the almighty for granting them a perfect heir to rule the kingdom. Valmiki Ramayana and other Hindu scriptures concede Rama as the manifestation of Vishnu, and he was born in human form to guard innocent people against evil forces.
Rama Assumes Throne
The Ayodhya citizens started celebrating Sri Rama's birthday when he assumed the throne of Ayodhya. They celebrated the day with immense joy to give their tributes to the divine King. Fasting on Rama Navami cleanses the soul and the body. It is hard to derive the precise period when his birthday celebrations started first. But, based on archaeological and historical evidence, it is said to be around 5114 BC. The festival is even mentioned in Kalika Purana, the ancient Indian epic.
Rama kept everyone happy around him. The entire Ayodhya and its citizens honored and loved him extremely and considered Rama, their protector. When he had a hard time in exile to the forest along with Sita and Lakshman, the citizens were totally broken out and lost their hope of protection. Though Rama and Sita had undergone hectic problems, it was pre-destined to conquer the demon King Ravana, and for the same purpose, Vishnu descended on the earth in the human form, Sri Rama. After fourteen years of exile, Sri Rama and Sita returned with a huge victory, and Sri Rama Pattabisekam was conducted cheerfully. Thus, Rama assumed his throne.
Rituals of Rama Navami
The day dawns with worshipping prayers. Devotees start their fasting at Sunrise and complete it at Sunset. All members of the family reach Sri Rama temple to attend Pooja. Idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman are worshipped. Priests and devotees perform Bajans and songs, read Ramayana and other Rama-related scriptures, pronounce hymns, and offer sweets to the deity. After Aarti, devotees who observe fasting ends with eating Prasad, fruits, and sweets. Thus, Rama abundantly blesses his ardent devotees on his birthday.
