Ram Navami Puja Vidhi (राम नवमी पूजा विधि)
Ram Navami puja for Shri Ram’s birth celebration: materials, midday worship, Ramcharitmanas recitation, bhog, aarti and fasting rules.
When to do it
- On Chaitra Shukla Navami
- The puja is mostly at midday, the time considered the birth hour
Puja materials checklist
Puja method (step by step)
Bath and purification
Bathe and wear clean, preferably freshly washed clothes. Keep the mind calm and put your phone away.
Prepare the place
Clean the place of worship. East or north-east is considered best. Spread a clean cloth on a low wooden seat (chowki) and install the idol or picture.
Lamp and achaman
Light the lamp and incense. Take water in the right palm and sip it three times (achaman).
Sankalp (resolve)
Holding water, rice grains (akshat) and a flower in your hand, say silently your name, gotra (if known) and the purpose of the puja, then pour the water on the ground. A resolve in simple language is also valid.
Ganesh vandana
Remembering Ganesha before any puja is considered auspicious in tradition.
Install Ram Darbar
Place the Ram Darbar picture on the seat and decorate it.
Abhishek
Give a symbolic bath with panchamrit and clean water, then offer cloth and tilak.
Flowers, tulsi and bhog
Offer flowers, tulsi leaves, panjiri and kheer as bhog.
Recitation
Recite the Bal Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas (the birth of Ram) or the Ram Raksha Stotra. If that is not possible, chant the name of Ram.
Birth celebration
At midday celebrate the birth with conch, bell and cheers.
Aarti
Perform aarti with a ghee lamp. Let all family members stand together, and take the aarti at the end.
Prayer for forgiveness
Ask humbly for forgiveness for any mistake made during the puja.
Prasad and closing
Share the prasad with everyone and take some yourself. Take the blessings of elders. Immerse flowers and other puja materials in flowing water or under a tree, rather than throwing them in the trash.
Mantras
✔ Do
- Bathe and wear clean clothes before the puja
- Sit with a calm mind and faith
- Keep the bhog clean and prepared at home
- Share the prasad with everyone after the puja
- Tell children the Ram katha
- Give in charity and serve
✘ Do not
- Do not get distracted by your phone or conversation during the puja
- Avoid anger, gossip and harsh speech
- Do not offer stale or impure flowers and bhog
- Do not place the idol or picture directly on the floor
- Do not eat tamasic food during the fast
Common mistakes
- Limiting the puja to celebration; also remember the ideals of the Ramayana
- Offering bhog without tulsi
Auspicious muhurat
Check the Navami tithi and the midday puja time in your city’s panchang.
Related aarti, katha and mantra
Frequently asked questions
When should the Ram Navami puja be done?
Is the Ram Navami fast necessary?
What bhog should be offered on Ram Navami?
Where should one start the Ramayana recitation?
How should the Ram Darbar picture be kept?
Other puja vidhis
Note: puja methods vary by family, region and sect. The method given here is a simple, general form. Give priority to your family tradition or your pandit’s guidance.