The festival of Ram Navami marks
the birthdaycelebrations of the Hindu Lord Rama, who is considered to
be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. According to the Hindu calendar,
it falls on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, which is the Spring season.
In some parts of India, it is celebrated as a nine-day festival that coincides
with Vasanta Navratri, dedicated to the female force or Divine Mother better
known as Durga or Shakti.
What are the rituals?
Ram Navami is one of the most important
festivals of the Vaishnav sect of Hindus. In the states of Bihar and Uttar
Pradesh, early morning rituals mark Ram Navami. It entails a havan, chanting
of Vedic mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers. A Rama temple is
beautifully decorated and the image of the Lord Rama is adorned with rich
clothes and jewels. Stories from the Ramayana are read out in joyous public
gatherings and satsangs. Most people fast until midnight. They break their
fast with a prasad of fruits and milk.
This festival is celebrated with
great pomp and glory even in Pondicherry, Rishikesh and Ayodhya, the birthplace
of Lord Rama. The Ram Navami fair held at Ayodhya draws a huge crowd of
dedicated devotees. In the South, this festival is celebrated for nine
days as the wedding of Lord Rama and his lovely consort Sita. People sing
and chant the name of the Lord. Devotees have a highly colourful ceremony
to mark the wedding celebrations.
The legend
The Ramayana is a story of Lord Rama,
written by the sage Valmiki in the 4th century B.C. As the legend
goes, Lord Rama, eldest son of King Dashratha, was banished to the forest
for 14 long years. He was dethroned due to his stepmother's plans who wanted
to see her son Bharata ascend the throne in place of the elder brother
Rama. Rama willingly gave away the throne and his wife Sita and brother
Lakshman followed Rama to the forest, leaving the throne for Bharata.
In these 14 years of banishment,
Rama waged and won a war against the evil Ravana, the King of Lanka, who
had kidnapped his wife Sita. He was aided by a band of monkeys, the most
loyal of whom is worshipped today as Lord Hanuman. Rama ascended the Ayodhya
throne after the triumph over Ravana. Even as he started ruling, he was
forced to banish his wife from the kingdom, following a villager's adverse
comment about her association with Ravana. The legend is cited to prove
how Lord Rama always lived a life of righteousness (dharma). He was born
to destroy the evil and protect the weak. As he embodies the highest ideals
of man, he is called the Maryada Pushottam, which means the perfect and
best man, someone who follows the path of righteousness against all odds.
Significance
Lord Rama was the ideal son, a righteous
King, an upright husband and a loving brother. He also led an ideal life of a householder. He was also the true embodiment of humanity. Ram Navami
is a therefore a special reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama
stood.
