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RAMANAVAMI: The Birth of Lord Rama Ramanavami is the celebrataion of the birth of Rama. The festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra (March/April). In some parts of India, it is a nine-day festival, coinciding Navaratri (see also Navaratri).
The
public worship starts with morning ablutions, chanting Vedic mantras
dedicated to Vishnu, and offering flowers and fruit to the god. People
keep a fast throughout the day, breaking it only at midnight with fruit. 
In some parts of India, especially Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh, public gatherings are organized to commemorate the birth
of Rama. Excerpts from the Rama charitamanas, the story of
Rama, are recited. People of all castes and status
participate in these gatherings to listen to the stories. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama, is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days. Ratha yatras or 'chariot processions' of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples.
Though
the public worship of Rama is of recent origin, his worship inside the
home dates back to the pre-Christian era. Reference about keeping a
strict fast on Ramanavami is found in the Kalika Purana. The vrata
of Ramanavami was considered one of the five most important vratas
of the ancient times. It was one of the vratas that was permitted
to the lower castes and outcastes, who were ordinarily not
permitted to observe social and religious rituals. |