Ram Navami
Ram Navami is the celebration
of birth of Prabhu Ram. According to the Hindu calendar, Ram Navami falls on the ninth
day of the Chaitra month which is also the last day of Chaitra Navratri. Hence,
Ram Navami holds a special importance. Ram Navami is celebrated with great joy
and enthusiasm throughout India. The festival is celebrated in a grand manner
in the Northern India, especially in Ayodhya, the birth place of Shree Ram.
Ram Navami signifies the arrival of
divine power on the earth. It was the day when Bhagwan Vishnu was born as the
elder son of Dasharath, the King of Ayodhya. On this day, the devotees of
Prabhu Ram perform elaborate rituals.
The purpose of the birth of Ram was
to destroy the evil spirit of Ravana. Hence, the celebration of Ram Navami
glorifies the power of dharma(righteousness), and it reflects the victory of good over evil. A celebration of Ram Navami festival indicates the removal of negativity
and rise of divine power on the earth. To remove the Asuras (demonic energy) from the earth and
to maintain the Dharma, Bhagwan Vishnu was born as Shree Ram.
The day of Ram Navami begins with the
offering prayer to the Sun. The Sun symbolises power. Sun is believed to be
Prabhu Rama's ancestor. Hence, praying to the Sun at the beginning of that day
to seek the blessing of supreme power is auspicious.
Devotees of Shree Ram celebrate the
day by singing the devotional songs, listening recitations from religious books
and chanting of Vedic hymns. Preachers also preach sermons from religious
texts. All of these practices make people aware about the difference between
right and wrong. Followers of Shree Ram keep a fast for the whole day. It helps
to purify body system.
At the end of the day, devotees break
the fast after having fruits and sweets. Chariot procession is an indispensable
part of Ram Navami festival. The devotees place the images of Shree Ram, Sita,
Lakshman, and Hanuman in a decorated chariot and carry out a procession on the
streets.
Taking a holy bath in the sacred
river of Saryu in Ayodhya is a part of rituals of this ceremony. The Hindus
believe that this holy bath purifies the body and soul.
