Jai Shri Ram! Don’t worry, this is not about a Hindu Rally. We are only trying to throw some light on the significance of Lord Rama’s birthday and when will it be celebrated in 2018.
Ram Navami is celebrated on the ninth day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Rama, Ram Navami also marks the last day of Chaitra Navratri.
Here are the dates and we tell you why this festivity has a major traction in India:
When is Ram Navami in 2018?
Ram Navami will be celebrated on 25 March 2018.
Why is Ram Navami Celebrated?
According to the Hindu mythology, Ram Navami is celebrated on the last day of Navaratri. Lord Rama, as the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, is believed to have descended as a successor to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya.
How is Ram Navami Celebrated?
From fasting to pandal programs to chanting recitals, Ram Navami celebrations include praising of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, while chanting parts of the Akhand Ramayana and SunderKand.
Over the nine days prior to Ram Navami, Valmiki Ramayana is chanted and recitals glorifying the win of good over evil are performed.
Akhand Ramayana Path, which involves chanting the entire Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas, nonstop for 24 hours is also a part of the celebration in various parts of the country.
This means chanting ‘Ram Ram’ for 1,440 Minutes!
Remembering Ram and not his partner Hanuman, sounds unfair. Well, you need not worry, as people (eminent scholars), who designed the rules, have made a provision for this as well! Sunderkand talks about the significance of Hanuman and his Vanar team, which ensured messages to Sita were delivered on time!
Added to the above rituals, people worship idols of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman at homes and community gatherings. Yes, of course, at Ayodhya as well!
Places in India where the festivity is most observed includes Sita Samahit Sthal (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi (Bihar), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Vontimitta (Andhra Pradesh) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu).
Ram, as a Hindu deity, holds a significant place among Hindus, and given the current state of vote bank politics, the celebrations are expected to amplify further. On this note, Bolo Siyapati Ram Chadra ki Jai!
Oh and BTW, you can totally get away for the weekend too. So mark the dates and book your destination.
Siya at a weekend spot then!
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