Ram Navami is celebrated on the 9th day of the elaborate Chaitra Navratri. This day is believed to be one of the oldest festivals in Hindu religion. The first evidence of Ram Navami is found in pre-Christian era. In early days when caste system was rampant in India, Ram Navami was one of the fewest festivals where lower caste people were permitted to participate in.
According to the Hindu calendar, this also spearheads the beginning of their new year. The nine days of Chaitra Navratri culminate with the 9th day of Ram Navami. However, this year, Ashthmi and Navami will coincide and fall on April 13th. The tithi for Navami will begin on April 13 and continue till April 14. This occurrence is considered very auspicious and is ought to bring you lots of good luck and prosperity.
Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri is also goes by the name Vasant Navratri or Ram Navratri as the 9th or the culmination day of this Navratri is celebrated as the birth of Lord Ram. Maa Shakti is worshipped across these 9 days of Chaitra Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri finds a special place in the northern states of India.
Significance
Worshippers believe that if they worship Goddess with utmost devotion during the Chaitra Navratri period without wishing for any worldly desires, they are sure to attain salvation. This period also marks the onset of summers in India.
Worshippers observe fast during these 9 days as a sign of abstinence from temptations and desires. It is interesting to know that fasting for 9 days brings your desires under control and it automatically evokes peace and calm from within.
Healthwise, fasting for 9 days detoxifies your body and strengthens your immunity and digestive system.
Also, during Chaitra Navratri, the climatic conditions around us change drastically. So eating healthy and light food only prevents us against any suspecting hazards caused by the change of weather. Keeping all these facts in mind, people in olden times began observing fast to add all the more reason to devotion.
People also worship Maa Saraswati and seek her blessings for an enlightened beginning of the new year.
Nine Days of Chaitra Navratri
Day 1
This is the day of Shailputri and is known as Pratipada.
Day 2
Known as Dwitiya, Sindhara Dooj and Brahmcharini Puja are performed on this day.
Day 3
This day is celebrated as Gauri Teej
Day 4
Known as Chaturthi, devotees perform Kushmanada puja on this day.
Day 5
This day is observed as Panchmi and worshippers perform Naag puja on this day.
Day 6
The 6th day or Shashthi is known as Yamuna Chath and people perform Katyayani puja on this day.
Day 7
Saptami is observed as Maha Saptmi and worshippers perform Kalratri Puja on this day.
Day 8
Ashtami is the day of Durga Ahtami and on this day Mahagauri Puja and Sandhi Puja are performed.
Day 9
Navami is the last day of Chaitra Navratri and is celebrated as Ram Navami.
Although Chaitra Navratri is a 9 day festival, the celebrations come to an end only on the 10th day with Navratri Parana and devotes bid farewell to Maa Durga on this day.
RAM NAVMI
Legend
King Dashrath of Ayodhya was married with three wives and wasn’t blessed with an heir who could take his empire and legacy forward which rose immense concern and duress around. It was then that Sant Vashishtha advised Dashrath to carry out a ritual meticulously after the success of which he’d be blessed with an offspring. Dashrath was handed a bowl of payasam at the end of the yagya which he had to divide among his three wives. The first two wives, Kaushalya and Kaikeyi got one portion each and the youngest wife got two portions. Both Kaikeyi and Kaushalya bore a son each and Sumithra bore twins.
This day went on to be celebrated with great pomp and show to thank the Gods for this miracle. It was many years later when Ram killed Raavan and returned to Ayodhya after exile that the people of the kingdom began to celebrate his birth day as Ram Navami.
Ram Navami Rituals
On this day, the devotes worship Lord Ram by installing idols of Lord Ram and those of Lord Laxman, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman. They chant bahajans and arti together at homes or in the temples. The youngest female member of the family, the kanya then applies tilak on all the male members of the family. A red bindi is applied to all the female members. At the end of the puja ceremony, ganga jal is sprinkled on the gathering.
In elaborate celebrations and in temples, the priest narrates the story of Ram janam and bhajans are chanted along with mantras of Ramnam.
In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, a special procession is carried out around the city which has idols of Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. People chant Ram Nama as they move along with the procession. It is believed that this day brings immense enlightenment and good luck to the participating devotees.
A two day fair is also held in Ayodhya for Ram Navami.
Fast
The fasting during Chaitra Navratri can either be for all nine days or specifically on the day of Ram Navami which basically can be- fasting until noon starting from midnight of Ram Navami, fasting until the next midnight from Ram Navami, eating only one meal on that day. The fast is opened usually with fruits or plain boiled potatoes. The fasting food for the nine days consists of food without salt, garlic, onion or any spices.
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