INDIA INFO: India - Ram Navami Festival

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Ram Navami Festival

Ram Navami is celebration of Lord Ram’s birth. He was born in the Raghuvansh family which was considered the most virtuous family. Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Hindu Lunar Year in the month of April. Lord Ram is the God who had all the virtues a king, a son, a husband and a father should have. He is considered as an example of a perfect man.

Lord Ram, also known as the divine warrior and the protector was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu who took birth on earth as the prince of Ayodhya and son of King Dashrath. He is known for his heroism in the epic Ramayana. He is always seen with bow & arrows to symbolize destruction of evil. All his pictures usually have three other figures, wife Sita, brother Lakshman and devotee Hanuman.

According to the Hindu mythology, he was sent to earth by Lord Vishnu to destroy the increasing evils. Ram’s yug or era as we may call it is considered the best period in India when there was peace and happiness everywhere.

On Ram Navami the celebration starts by paying homage to the sun early in the morning. On this auspicious day, the houses are cleaned and prayers are offered by the members of the family. After the prayer special traditional food is offered to the God, which is then distributed in and outside the family. It is believed that if one takes even a small morsel of the holy offerings, he is blessed by the God.

A Havan or a big holy fire is built up with the help of small sticks, herbs, ghee and other sacred items according to the rituals mentioned in the holy books. The smoke from the fire is supposed to purify the surroundings. The hymns and chants of the priests purify the air in which Lord Ram was supposed to be born. Many people keep fasts on this day.

On this day a special Chariot is also taken out on the roads. On it, idols of Lord Ram, his wife Sita, brother Lakshman and his disciple Hanuman are seated. The chariot is accompanied by quite a few other people depicting Ram’s soldiers. The chariot is followed by a large procession with people rejoicing and singing the holy songs called bhajans praising the Lord. As it is an auspicious day, ceremonies such as marriages, naming of the newborns are also performed

This festival is celebrated in India by the Hindus with highest enthusiasm, keenness & eagerness. In Ayodhya, which is the birth place of the Lord there is added zeal and enthusiasm among the people.

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