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{{short description|Annual Hindu spring festival}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Ram Navami
|type = Hindu
|image = BabyRamOrchha.jpg
|caption = Baby [[Rama]] (Ram Lalla)
|significance = Birthday of Lord [[Rama]]
|date = Ninth day of [[Chaitra]] (Chaitra [[Shukla Paksha]] Navami)
|date2020 = 2 April (Thu)<ref name="timeanddate.com">https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/rama-navami</ref>
|date2021 = 21 April (Wednesday)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rama Navami in India|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/rama-navami|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.timeanddate.com|language=en}}</ref>
|celebrations = Last day of Chaitra [[Navratri]]
|observances = [[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]], [[Vrata]] (fast), [[Ramayana]] [[Katha (storytelling format)|Katha recitation]], [[Homa (ritual)|Havan]], [[Dāna]] (charity), [[Music Festival]]
|frequency = Annual
}}
'''Rama Navami''' ({{lang-hi|राम नवमी}}) is a [[Hindu]] spring festival that celebrates the birthday of [[Rama]], the seventh [[avatar]] of the god [[Vishnu]]. Rama is particularly important in the [[Vaishnavite]] tradition of [[Hinduism]].<ref name=bbc/><ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=175953 The nine-day festival of Navratri leading up to Sri Rama Navami has bhajans, kirtans and discourses in store for devotees]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407143924/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=175953 |date= 7 April 2009 }}</ref> The festival celebrates the descent of Vishnu as the Rama avatar, through his birth to King [[Dasharatha]] and Queen [[Kausalya]] in [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]].<ref name=dna8apr2014/> The festival is a part of the spring (Vasanta) [[Navratri]], and falls on the ninth day of the bright half ([[Paksha|Shukla Paksha]]) of [[Chaitra]], the first month in the [[Hindu calendar]]. This typically occurs in the Gregorian months of March or April every year.<ref name=lochetefeld562>{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/562 562]}}</ref> Rama Navami is an optional government holiday in India.<ref name=hck2017>[http://hck.gov.in/hckcalendar/hck-2017.pdf Holiday Calendar], High Court of Karnataka, Government</ref>

The day is marked by Rama Katha recitals or reading of Rama stories, including the Hindu sacred epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. Some Vaishnavite Hindus visit a temple while others pray within their homes, and some participate in a [[bhajan]] or [[kirtan]] with music as a part of [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] and [[aarti]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104195645/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-02/mysore/28056195_1_ramanavami-music-festival-temples-devotees Ramnavami] ''[[The Times of India]]'', 2 April 2009.</ref> Some devotees mark the event by taking miniature statues of the infant Ram, washing and clothing them, then placing them in cradles. Charitable events and community meals are also organized. The festival is an occasion for moral reflection for many Hindus.<ref name=bbc/><ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=President and PM greet people as India observes Ram Navami today|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/president-and-pm-greet-people-as-india-observes-ram-navami-today/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> Some mark this day by [[vrata]] (fasting).<ref name=bbc/><ref>[http://india.gov.in/knowindia/festivlas_ramnavami.php Ramnavami] [[Govt. of India]] Portal.</ref>

The important celebrations on this day take place at [[Ayodhya]] and [[Sita Samahit Sthal]] ([[Uttar Pradesh]]), [[Sitamarhi]] ([[Bihar]]),<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Sitamarhi Sitamarhi],([[Fiji Islands]]) , Encyclopedia Britannica (2014), Quote: "A large Ramanavami fair, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, is held in spring with considerable trade in pottery, spices, brass ware, and cotton cloth. A cattle fair held in Sitamarhi is the largest in Bihar state. The town is sacred as the birthplace of the goddess Sita (also called Janaki), the wife of Rama."</ref> [[Janakpurdham]] ([[Nepal]]), [[Bhadrachalam]] ([[Telangana]]), [[Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta]] ([[Andhra Pradesh]]), [[Ramanathaswamy Temple|Ramanathaswamy temple, Rameswaram]] ([[Tamil Nadu]]), [[Kothandaramar temple, Vaduvur|Vaduvur Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple]] ([[Tamilnadu]]), Sri Rama Pada Temple, Dhanushkodi, Rameshwaram (Tamilnadu), [[Eri-Katha Ramar Temple|Eri Katha Ramar temple, Maduranthakam]]([[Tamil Nadu]]), Eri-Katha Ramar Temple, Thirunindravur (Tamilnadu), Sri Kodanda-Ramar Temple,Thirupullani (Tamilnadu), Sri Kodandaramar Temple, T-Nagar, Chennai (Tamilnadu), Sri Parathasarathy Temple (Sri Ramar Sannidhi), Thiruvallikeni, Chennai, Jharkhand (hazaribag, chatra, Ranchi, lamta shiv Mandir), (Tamil Nadu). Rathayatras, the chariot processions, also known as ''Shobha yatras'' of Rama, Sita, his brother [[Lakshmana]] and [[Hanuman]], are taken out at several places.<ref name=bbc>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/rama.shtml Ram Navami] ''[[BBC]]''.</ref><ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=47910 On Ram Navami, we celebrate our love for the ideal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407143929/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=47910 |date= 7 April 2009 }} ''[[Indian Express]]'', Monday, 31 March 2003.</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990325/ige25105.html Shobha yatra on Ram Navami eve] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407015100/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990325/ige25105.html |date=7 April 2009 }} ''[[Indian Express]]'', Thursday, 25 March 1999.</ref> In Ayodhya, many take a dip in the sacred river [[Sarayu]] and then visit the Rama temple.<ref name=dna8apr2014>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hindus-around-the-world-celebrate-ram-navami-today-1976344 Hindus around the world celebrate Ram Navami today], DNA, 8 April 2014</ref>

== Celebrations ==
[[File:Rama Navami 17.jpg|thumb|left|Baby Rama in a cradle at [[Chinawal|Chinawal village]] temple, Maharashtra]]
The day is the ninth and last day of ''Chaitra (Vasanta) Navaratri'' (not to be confused with the better-known autumn [[Navratri]]).<ref name=lochetefeld562/> It celebrates the birth of Vishnu's 7th avatar, Rama. It is marked by the faithful with ''puja'' (devotional worship) such as bhajan and kirtan, by fasting and reading passages about Rama's life. Special cities in the [[Ramayana]] legends about Rama's life observe major celebrations.<ref name=lochetefeld562/> These include Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), [[Rameswaram]] ([[Tamil Nadu]]), [[Bhadrachalam]] ([[Telangana]]) and Sitamarhi (Bihar). Some locations organize [[Ratha Yatra|Rath-yatras]] (chariot processions), while some celebrate it as the wedding anniversary festival (''Kalyanotsavam'') of Rama and Sita.<ref name=dna8apr2014/>

While the festival is named after Rama, the festival typically includes reverence for Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, given their importance in Rama's life story.<ref name="Rosen2006p212">{{cite book|author=Steven Rosen|title=Essential Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WuVG8PxKq_0C&pg=PA212 |year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99006-0|page=212}}</ref> Some Vaishnavite Hindus observe the festival in [[Hindu temple]]s, while others observe it within their homes.<ref name="Melton2011p739">{{cite book|author=Constance A Jones|editor=J. Gordon Melton|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC&pg=PA739 |year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-206-7|pages=739–740}}</ref> [[Surya]], the Hindu sun god, is a part of the worship and ceremonies in some communities.<ref name="Melton2011p739"/> Some [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] communities observe all nine days of Chaitra (Vasanta) Navaratri by remembering Rama and reading the Ramayana, with some temples organizing special discussion sessions in the evening.<ref name="Melton2011p739"/> Charitable events to help those in need and community meals are organized by temples and Vaishnavite organizations, and for many Hindus, it is an occasion for moral reflection.<ref name=bbc/>

[[Kabir|Kabir Sahib]] told the true definition of Aadi Ram in His Bani<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-20|title=Ram Navami 2021: Date and Who Is Aadi Ram? {{!}} SA News Channel|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/ram-navami-aadi-ram/|access-date=2021-04-21|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US}}</ref><blockquote>“Ek Ram Dashrath ka beta, Ek Ram ghat ghat me baitha. Ek Ram ka sakal pasara, Ek Ram sabhu se nyara" ||</blockquote>In Karnataka, Sri Ramanavami is celebrated by the local Mandalis (organizations) at some places, even on footpaths, by dispersing free panaka (jaggery and crushed musk melon juice) and some food. Additionally, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, the [[Sree Ramaseva Mandali]], R.C.T (R.) Chamrajpet, organizes India's most prestigious, month-long classical music festival. The uniqueness of this 80 year old musical extravaganza is that celebrated Indian classical musicians, irrespective of their religion, from both genres – Carnatic (South Indian) and Hindustani (North Indian) – descend down to offer their musical rendition to Lord Sri Rama and the assembled audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ramanavami.org/about-us|title=Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Retrospect | Our Impact|website=www.ramanavami.org}}</ref>

[[File:A View of Bhadrachalam Gopuram.JPG|thumb|Bhadrachalam temple in [[Telangana]] is one of the major Rama Navami celebration sites.<ref name=dna8apr2014/>]]
In eastern Indian states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, the Jagannath temples and regional Vaishnava community observe Rama Navami, and treat it as the day when preparations begin for their annual Jagannath [[Ratha Yatra]] in summer.<ref>[http://odishasuntimes.com/2016/01/24/logs-for-trinitys-chariots-arrive-in-odishas-puri-town/ Logs for Trinity’s chariots arrive in Odisha’s Puri town], Odisha Sun Times (24 January 2016)</ref><ref>[http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2016/4/15/All-set-for-grand-Ram-Navami-Shobhayatra.aspx All set for grand Ram Navami Shobhayatra], The Hitavada (15 Apr 2016)</ref>

Devotees associated with [[ISKCON]] fast through the daylight hours.<ref name="Melton2011p739"/> A number of ISKCON temples introduced a more prominent celebration of the occasion of the holiday with the view of addressing needs of growing native [[Hindu]] congregation. It is however always was a notable calendar event on the traditional [[Gaurabda]] calendar with a specific additional requirement of fasting by devotees.<ref name=Zaidman2000>{{cite journal | author = Zaidman, N. | year = 2000 | title = The Integration of Indian Immigrants to Temples Run by North Americans | journal = Social Compass | volume = 47 | issue = 2 | pages = 205–219 |quote=Another example of a religious enterprise initiated by a board member was the organization of Lord Ramachandra Appearance Day (Sri Ram Navami). | doi = 10.1177/003776800047002005| s2cid = 144392375 }}</ref>

== Significance ==
The significance of the festival is that it indicates the victory of good over evil and establishment of [[dharma]] to beat [[adharma]]. The Ram Navami festival celebration starts with jal (water) offering in the early morning to [[Surya]] (a sun god) to get blessings from him. People also believe that descendants of Surya were ancestors of [[Rama]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/significance-of-ram-navami-festival|title=SIGNIFICANCE OF RAM NAVAMI FESTIVAL|website=Speaking Tree}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-30|title=Ram Navami: History, Significance and Importance of worshipping Lord Ram on last day of Chaitra Navratri|url=https://english.jagran.com/lifestyle/ram-navami-history-significance-and-importance-of-worshipping-lord-ram-on-this-day-10010172|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Jagran English}}</ref>

==Outside India==
{{generalize|date=April 2020}}
Rama Navami is one of the Hindu festivals that is celebrated by the [[Indian diaspora]] with roots in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Telangana]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-01|title=Ram Navami 2020 to be observed on 2 April: All you need to know about the festival, celebrations – India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/ram-navami-2020-to-be-observed-on-2-april-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-festival-celebrations-8214701.html|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Firstpost}}</ref> The descendants of Indian [[indentured servants]] who were forced to leave India due to British-engineered famines and then promised jobs in colonial [[South Africa]] before 1910 in British-owned plantations and mines, and thereafter lived under the South African [[apartheid]] regime, continued to celebrate Ram Navami by reciting the Ramayana and by singing [[bhajan]]s of [[Tyagaraja]] and [[Kancherla Gopanna|Bhadrachala Ramdas]]. The tradition continues in contemporary times in the Hindu temples of [[Durban]] every year.<ref>Paula Richman (2008), ''Ways of Celebrating Ram's Birth: Ramayana Week in Durban, South Africa'', Religions Of South Asia, Volume 2 Issue 2, pages 109–133</ref>

Similarly, in [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Guyana]], [[Suriname]], [[Jamaica]], other [[Caribbean]] countries, [[Mauritius]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], and many other countries with Hindu descendants of colonial-era indentured workers forced to leave British India have continued to observe Rama Navami along with their other traditional festivals.<ref>{{cite book|author=Steven Vertovec|title=Hindu Trinidad: Religion, Ethnicity and Socio-Economic Change |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G1gYAAAAYAAJ|year=1992|publisher=Macmillan Academic |isbn=978-0-333-53505-9|page=211}}</ref>

It is also celebrated by Hindus in [[Fiji]] and those Fiji Hindus who have re-migrated elsewhere.<ref>{{cite book|author=Brian A. Hatcher|title=Hinduism in the Modern World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IdeoCgAAQBAJ |year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-04631-6|pages=116–117}}</ref>

=== Why is Rama Navami celebrated? ===
{{expand section | examples and additional citations|date=April 2020}}

Rama Navami celebrates the birth of the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya as the son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of the Raghu Kula (Solar Dynasty). He was born on the ninth day of Chaitra month, at noon. This day coincides with the ninth day of Chaitra (Vasanta) Navratri, which is the day the fasting concludes. As per the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls in the month of March or April.

The celebration of Rama Navami is done with devotion and joy. Houses are decorated and deity idols are beautifully decorated with flowers, clothes and jewels. The celebrations include fasting, singing of devotional songs, visiting temple and recitation of hymns from Rama Charitmanas. In some places, the celebrations start from the first day of Chaitra Navratri until Navami, while Rama Lila, a theatrical enactment of Ramayana, recitation of Ramayana, chariot procession of Rama, Sita and Laxman idols is done, discourse on Ramayana by story-tellers and satsangs are organized at few places.

==See also==
* [[Public holidays in India]]
* [[List of Hindu festivals]]

==References and notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ramanavami}}[https://www.vedicinsight.in/festival/shri-raam-nam-mahima/ Ram Navami Special – Shri Raam Nam Mahima]{{Ramayana}}
{{Hindu Festivals}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Nepal]]
[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:Swaminarayan Sampradaya]]
[[Category:Ramayana]]
[[Category:Vrata]]
[[Category:Birthdays]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in India]]

Rama Navami - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Add: s2cid. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by BrownHairedGirl | Linked from User:BrownHairedGirl/Articles_with_bare_links | #UCB_webform_linked 504/2200