Ram Navami

Ram Navami is the festival of the birth of Lord Shri Ram. According to tradition, Shri Ram was born in the Treta Yuga in Ayodhya as the son of King Dasharatha and Mother Kaushalya. He is regarded as the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Shri Ram is seen as the ideal of dignity, truth, dharma and duty, which is why he is called "Maryada Purushottam". The festival is celebrated with special fervour at holy places such as Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Bhadrachalam and Rameswaram.

Ram Navami is celebrated on the Navami of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha, around the last day of Chaitra Navratri. It is believed that Shri Ram was born at midday, so the birth puja is performed during Madhyahna Kaal. The festival is observed on the day when the Navami tithi is present at midday. Check the date given above, and see the Panchang for your city's midday time.

• Idol or picture of the Ram Darbar (Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman), a chowki, a yellow or saffron cloth • Kalash, water, Gangajal, mango leaves, coconut • Roli, sandalwood paste, akshat, saffron, turmeric • Tulsi leaves, yellow and white flowers, garland • Incense, lamp, camphor, ghee • Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) • Prasad: kheer, panjiri, fruits, sweets, dry fruits • A copy of the Ramcharitmanas or the Ramayana

1. Bathe in the morning, wear clean clothes, remember Shri Ram and take the sankalp for the fast. 2. Install the Ram Darbar at the puja spot. Remember Ganesh ji first. 3. Bathe Shri Ram with panchamrit and then with pure water. Offer clothes, sandalwood paste, tulsi leaves and flowers. 4. At midday celebrate the birth: blow the conch, ring the bell and sing "Bhaye Pragat Kripala Deen Dayala Kaushalya Hitkari" (the birth passage of the Ramcharitmanas). 5. Offer kheer, panjiri and fruits as bhog. 6. Recite the Ramcharitmanas, the Sundarkand or the Ram Raksha Stotra. Do kirtan of "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram". 7. Perform the aarti ("Shri Ramchandra Kripalu Bhaju Man"). 8. Distribute the prasad and give food or charity to those in need. Many people keep a fruit-only fast on this day.

King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had no children. On the advice of Guru Vashishtha he performed the Putrakameshti Yagya under the guidance of Rishi Rishyashringa. The being who appeared from the yagya gave him kheer (payasam), which Dasharatha divided among his queens. On Chaitra Shukla Navami, at midday, Mother Kaushalya gave birth to Shri Ram. Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat, and Queen Sumitra to Lakshman and Shatrughna. The whole of Ayodhya then celebrated. This story is told in different detail in the Valmiki Ramayana and the Ramcharitmanas.

• North India: Akhand Ramayan path, shobha yatras and Ramlila. • Ayodhya: a bath in the Saryu and special celebrations in the temples. • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Bhadrachalam): Sita-Rama Kalyanotsavam. • Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: the tradition of distributing panakam (jaggery drink) and neer mor (buttermilk) as prasad.

• Remember the ideals of Shri Ram: truth, dignity and respect for all. • Remember the time of the midday puja. • Avoid meat, alcohol and tamasic food. • Stay away from anger, lies and slander. • Donate food and water to those in need, especially at this time when summer is beginning.