Ram Navami

About

Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. It falls on Chaitra Shukla Navami, the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra, which is also the last day of Chaitra Navratri.

The key timing rule is Madhyahna, midday. Rama is said to have been born at noon, so the main puja is held when Navami is present in the middle of the day. When Navami spans two days, the day on which it covers midday is chosen. Check the computed time for your city; the site shows the midday puja window.

Significance and stories

Rama is revered as Maryada Purushottam, the ideal person who upheld duty, truthfulness and compassion even in great hardship. The Ramayana of Valmiki, and later works such as the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, tell his story: his exile with Sita and Lakshmana, the abduction of Sita by Ravana, the alliance with Hanuman and the vanara army, and his return to Ayodhya.

The day teaches dharma through example: keeping a promise, respect for parents, loyalty between brothers, faith in friendship, and humility in victory. Hanuman, the devoted servant of Rama, is also honoured on this day.

For many Vaishnava devotees this is one of the most sacred days of the year, and Rama's name is chanted all day.

How to observe (puja vidhi)

1. Wake early, bathe, and clean the puja space. Wear fresh clothes. Make a sankalpa for the day's vrat.
2. Decorate a small shrine with an image of Rama Darbar (Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman). Offer flowers, tulsi leaves, sandal paste and akshata.
3. Offer water, then panchamrit if you wish, to a small idol of Rama, and dress it in new clothes.
4. Read or listen to the Ramayana, a chapter of the Sundara Kanda, or the Rama Raksha Stotra. Chant "श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम" (Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram). Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
5. At midday, perform the birth ceremony. Rock a small cradle with the baby Rama idol and sing the birth song, then offer aarti. Distribute panakam and prasad.
6. Share the prasad with the family and break the fast. Many then spend the evening in bhajan and kirtan.

Puja items (samagri)

• Rama Darbar picture or idol, a small cradle for the baby Rama
• Tulsi leaves, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, akshata
• Panchamrit ingredients: milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar
• Fruits, sweets, and panakam (jaggery and ginger-pepper drink), neer more (spiced buttermilk), kosambari
• Diya, incense, camphor
• Ramayana or a book of Rama bhajans

Fasting and food

Many devotees fast until midday or the entire day, taking only fruit, milk, sabudana and rock salt dishes. After the midday puja, a simple meal is eaten. Traditional offerings include panakam, a cooling jaggery drink, and neer mor or kosambari, a light spiced buttermilk and lentil salad, both suited to the hot season in South India.

Keep the fast only if you wish. People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.

Regional customs

• Ayodhya and North India: Large fairs and processions, with the Ramayana reading and Hanuman worship.
• Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Temples hold the celestial wedding of Sita and Rama (Kalyanotsavam) on Sri Rama Navami, with Bhadrachalam as a major centre.
• Karnataka: Panakam, kosambari and Ramayana parayana.
• Maharashtra: Kirtans and the Ram Janmotsav at midday.
• ISKCON and Vaishnava communities: Fasting until midday and Rama kirtan.

Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Celebrating in the USA

Ram Navami may fall on a working day, so you may not be able to do the puja exactly at midday. A short prayer at lunch or an evening puja is accepted when your schedule cannot move. Many temples hold a midday abhishekam and the Rama Kalyanotsavam, and some hold their main programme on the nearest weekend.

Tulsi leaves, fruit and panakam ingredients (jaggery, ginger, cardamom) are available at Indian stores and many supermarkets. A small idol or picture is enough for a home shrine. In winter climates, keep indoor lamps away from smoke detectors, and consider an electric diya.