Ram Navami 2019: it is a very popular and widely celebrated Hindu festival which is celebrated in India and overseas. This festival is celebrated during the spring season and it is celebrated in the glory of Birth of Lord Ram. Lord Ram is known as the seventh avatar of Lord Ram is known as the Seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu and thus he is widely worshipped.
Ram Navami 2019: History
Ram Navami is also known as the spring Navratri festival and it is celebrated on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha which falls in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra. Since it is celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra month, thus at many places in India the festival is also celebrated for 9 days consecutively.
That’s why it is known as “Ram Navami”. The day is also celebrated as the marriage and union of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama. The festival mostly falls in the month of March or April and it is observed as an optional Government Holiday in India. In 2019, Ram Navami will be celebrated on 14th April.
Ram Navami 2019: Significance
Ram Navami is a major Hindu festival which is celebrated in the honor of Lord Ram. The festival is celebrated as the victory of goodness over evil. This festival indicates that the bad powers will be eliminated and goodness will prevail at the end. This festival is also celebrated to flush out the toxins or waste from our system so that the goodness only prevails.
Sun God is believed to play an instrumental role in the birth of Lord Ram. Lord Ram is known by various names like – Raghukula, Raghuvasma, Raghunatha, Raghupati or Raghavendra. And this is the reason that devotees on Ram Navami worship Sun God firstly then they worship Lord Ram.
Ram Navami 2019: Celebrations
Ram Navami celebrations indicate the victory of Goodness over evil. The festival is also celebrated as the victory and establishment of Dharma over Adharma. Ram Navami celebrations begin by offering holy water to Sun Gold. It is believed that firstly sun gold blessings are sought to ensure the overall well being of mankind.
Ram Navami celebrations vary hugely. You will see people celebrating Ram Navami through Rath Yatras or decorating the temples or even signing devotional bhajans at their home. Devotees are also seen in reciting Ramayana tales or even reading those inscriptions as well. Vedic mantras are also chanted by religious people all across the country and even outside.
Many people practice Ram Navami fasts also. Practicing Ram Navami fasts helps to purify and cleanse your body, mind, and soul. Ramleela also takes place at the majority of the places during Ram Navami. At this occasion, the entire life of Rama is showcased and the goodness of Lord Rama is showcased through Ramleela plays. Other than Rama, lord Laxman, Sita and many other important characters of Lord Rama are also showcased to the audience.
Many devotees of Lord Ram either chant Sunderkand or Akhand Ramayana Path. Performing Akhand Ramayana Path takes usually 24 hours and Sunderkand chant takes a maximum of 3 hours.
Many devotees also follow the practice of taking bath in the holy Saryu river. Saryu river is located in Ayodhya and it is believed that taking bath in this river will completely purify and detoxify your soul.
Ram Navami is also celebrated in different parts of India in different ways. Major celebrations take place at places where important events of Lord Ram’s birth took place. Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), Bhadrachalam (Telangana) and Sitamarhi (Bihar).
In Karnataka, Ram Navami is celebrated at most of the public places and even at society parks. Here free Panaka (Which is actually made by jaggery and crushed muskmelon juice) is distributed among the devotes with some other foods.
In Bengaluru, Sree Ramaseva Mandali organizes month-long classical music festival where Ram Navami is also celebrated. This is an 80-year-old musical festival. Here singers and artists from two different genres – Carnatic and Hindustani come together and celebrate the festival of Ram Navami. Approximately 2 lakh people come together to celebrate this festival every year.
In eastern states like – Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal Jaggnath temples and local Vaishnava community celebrate Ram Navami with huge pomp and show. This is a widely celebrated and enjoyed festival in Eastern India.
ISKCON people also celebrate Ram Navami with equal galore. They fast throughout the daylight hours. ISKCON temples are decorated and worshipped throughout the entire nine days of Ram Navami.
Ram Navami is also one of the few festivals which is celebrated outside India as well with equal prop and show. The festival is widely celebrated in Fiji, Singapore, Mauritius, and Dubai.
Ram Navami 2019: Puja
During Ram Navami festival people clean their houses and display the pictures of Lord Hanuman, Sita, Ram, and Laxman. Flowers and incense sticks are also decorated alongside the idols.
Two thalis are kept near the puja place in front of the idols. One thali contains the prasad whereas the other thali contains important items for the puja like – roli, aipun, rice, water, flowers, bell, and a conch.
Puja of Ram Navami begins by applying red bindi on the forehead of the youngest member. Red bindi aka sindoor is also applied on the forehead of all married women members. Puja begins by first sprinkling holy water on all the participants. Bhajans are sung and firstly the prasad is offered to Lord Ram and other idols and then it is distributed among the devotees.
Ram Navami 2019: Muhurat and Time
Ram Navami will be celebrated on 13th April which is a Sunday in India. The puja timings are 11:06 A.M. to 13:38 P.M. The puja duration is approximately 2 and a half hours.
So, what are you waiting for? These festivals are a perfect time to come together and close to your family and celebrate the close-knit bond and rich heritage of Indian culture. Let us know your plans of celebrating the festival in the comments down below.