Ram Navami 2008
(27th September 2009)
Birth day of Sri Rama, seventh incarnation
of Vishnu
Sri-Ramnavami
is dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama. It occurs on the
ninth day (navami). The festival commemorates the birth
of Rama who is remembered for his preperous and righteous
reign. Ramrajya (the reign of Rama) has become synonymous
with a period of peace and prosperity.
This Year Ram Navami will be celebrated
on 27th September 2009.
The birthday of Lord Rama, the celebrated hero of
the famous epic, 'Ramayana', is enthusiastically celebrated
all over India. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his human incarnation
as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya.
Lord Rama is a legendary figure, the epitome of
all that is good and true, the man who vanquished the demon
king Ravana. Lord Rama is not just a hero, but has been
given the status of a god by the Hindus. Therefore, it comes
as no surprise that his birth is celebrated year after year
with great pomp & show .
Temples
of Rama are decorated, religious discourses are held
and the Ramayana is recited for ten days. People sing devotional
songs in praise of Rama and rock, images of him in a cradle
to celebrate his birth. Rathyatras or chariot processions
of Rama, his wife Seeta, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman
are held from many temples. The chariot is accompanied by
several devotees dressed up in ancient costumes as Rama's
soldiers. The procession is a gusty affair with the participants
shouting praises echoing the happy days of Rama's reign.
Everyone participates in the puja by first sprinkling the
water, roli, and aipun on the gods and then showering handfuls
of rice on the deities. Then everybody stands up to perform
the arti at the end of which ganga jal or plain water is
sprinkled over the gathering. The singing of bhajans goes
on for the entire puja.
Finally, the prasad is distributed among all the people
who have gathered for worship.
Fasting
Some observe a strict fast on this day. The diet of such
a person would include potatoes made in any form without
haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. He can also eat
fruit and root vegetables of any kind. Curd, tea, coffee,
milk, and water are also permitted
On the face of it Sri-Ramnavmi appears to be just a festival
commemorating the reign of a king who was later deified.
But even behind present-day traditions there are clues which
unmistakably point to the origin of Ramnavmi as lying beyond
the Ramayana story.
A huge fair is held in Ayodhya (Ram Janam Bhumi) on Ram Navami
day, where thousands of devotees gather to celebrate this
festival.
In Andhra Pradesh:
Ram Navami is a major festival celebrated with great religious
fervour and devotion. It is celebrated for 10 days from
the Chaitra saptami to the Bahula Padyami that fall in the
month of March and April. Rambhaktas visit temples where
Rama's birthday is celebrated by the re-enactment of his
marriage to Sita. For this reason Ram Navami is also called
the Kalyanotsavam .
In Other Parts Of South India
Besides the usual fasting and prayers, a most delightful
tradition that is practised as a part of the Ram Navami
celebrations in south India is the narration of stories.
Talented storytellers are known to narrate episodes of the
Ramayana adding local flavour and humour to it. This is
essentially a folk tradition and still continues in villages
and small towns.
The
Sun is considered to be the progenitor of Rama's dynasty which
is called the Sun dynasty (Raghukula or Raghuvamsa, Raghu
means Sun and Kula or Vamsa mean familial descendant). Rama
is also known as Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc. That
all these names begin with the prefix Raghu is also suggestive
of some link with Sun-worship. The hour chosen for the observance
of the lord's birth is that when the sun is overhead and is
at its maximum brilliance. In some Hindu sects, prayers on
Ramnavami day start not with an invocation to Rama but to
Surya (sun). Again the syllable Ra is used in the word to
describe the sun and brilliance in many languages. In Sanskrit,
Ravi and Ravindra mean Sun.
Article by Mrs Malini Gupta
