Ram Navami 2023: Celebrating the Birth of Lord Rama

On the day of Ram Navami, Lord Rama, the seventh manifestation of Lord Vishnu, took on human form in the kingdom of Ayodhya. He possesses half of Lord Vishnu’s divine characteristics or is the ardha ansh of Vishnu.

Ram Navami, also known as Vasant Navratri or Chait Durga Puja, occurs on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra. As a result, the event may last nine days in some areas. Rama was born to exterminate Ravana’s evil spirit. Therefore, Rama Navami is celebrated to honour religion’s strength and symbolize the win of good over evil.

If you’re planning to seek Lord Rama’s blessings this year on Ram Navami, SmartPuja has a more accessible, hassle-free option for a memorable experience. SmartPuja- the online religious platform will help you with easy pandit bookings. We have 1200+ professionally trained Vedic pandits on our platform, providing pujas and homas services in:

Ram Navami Date 2023

In 2023, Ram Navami will fall on 30^th March.

The Legend of Lord Rama

Lord Rama was the prince of Ayodhya who married lovely princess Sita but was exiled for 14 years due to his stepmother’s scheme. His wife Sita and brother Laksmana also went with him. Ravana kidnapped Sita in the forest, so Rama collected an army of animals, like monkeys, bears, etc., to look for her. After attacking Lanka, the allies killed Ravana and freed Sita. Sita entered the fire to demonstrate her virginity, but the gods were on her side, and she was returned to her husband. Following the couple’s victorious return to Ayodhya, Rama’s rule (Ram-raj) began a golden age for humanity.

Characteristics of Lord Rama And His Teachings

• Rama has inherent goodness in him.
• He consistently upholds the principles of dharma and truth. 
• Like the earth, which carries so many loads, he has the quality of a forgiving disposition.
• Rama is truthful. 
• He lacks envy. 
• He uses uplifting language. 
• He has mastery over His senses and possesses the virtue of gratitude.
• He is skilled in using every weapon humans, devas, and demons utilize. He is versed in the Vedas.

The Impact of Lord Rama On Hinduism And Indian Culture

Lord Rama has impacted Indian culture in many ways because of his lifelong commitment to the principles of honesty, moral sacrifice, promise, and devotion. Lord Rama is a paradigm for what a perfect human being should be like.

It significantly impacts Indians’ actions and beliefs as a repository of enduring knowledge. The different occurrences in this epic teach humanity countless moral lessons.

The Ramayana has an immeasurable influence on Indian culture, literature, family, and social life. A good son, husband, friend, guru, brother, and wife are qualities that the Ramayana teaches society to value.

Celebrations of Ram Navami

Religious Rituals And Customs

Lord Rama’s followers worship him on the day of Ram Navami to please him. To commemorate Lord Rama’s auspicious birthday, the entire family attends a joint service of worship. 

• The installation of the idols or images of Lord Rama, Sita, Laxmana, and Hanuman marks the start of the Pooja. 
• Then, diyas and incense sticks are lit to welcome these Gods and Goddesses. 
• They are then worshipped using the auspicious pooja items such as roli, rice, aipun, flowers, water, bells, and conches, as well as delicious sweets. 
• Finally, an aarti is done, and holy water is sprinkled on each devotee in the Pooja as a token of blessing and good fortune from God.

Fasting

On the occasion of Ram Navami, the devotees of Lord Rama also keep a 24-hour fast. Many devotees fast on satvik, holy food devoid of salt and other impurities. Many of them also possess a waterless fast, though. 

Potatoes can be prepared without garlic, turmeric, ginger, or onion for those who prefer a satvik diet. The use of rock salt is permitted during a fast. The person can also have milk, tea, curd, coffee, fruits, and root vegetables while fasting. If a waterless fast is kept, the Ram Navami fast is ended at midnight.

Processions and Public Celebrations

In Ayodhya, where Ram was born, a Rath Yatra, or chariot parade, is also held on the festival of Ram Navami. The Laxman, Sita, and Hanuman idols are also part of the Ram Rath Yatra. Many of the city’s temples participate in the Rath Yatra, followed by pilgrims singing Ram Nama, the sacred name of Rama. This chariot parade is attended by many foreigners looking for spiritual knowledge because it provides spiritual awakening and good fortune for all of one’s days.

Ram Navami In India

Ram Navami is observed with much zeal and delight. The main draws of this festival are the placement of the idol of Lord Rama beside Laxman, Sita, and Hanuman in public pandals, prayer offerings, hymn chanting, and the magnificently dedicated performances of well-known plays like Ramlila. 

People travel from everywhere to different locations in India to celebrate and enjoy this year’s most entertaining event. You can experience the celebration at many beautiful places in India. On this day, it is thought that those who fast manifest a shower of eternal serenity and good fortune.

Importance of Ram Navami

Promoting Love, Peace, And Brotherhood: On Ram Navami, people greet each other with love and sweets, forgetting any conflicts between them, as one of the principal teachings of Ramayana is the win of good over evil. As bhajans are conducted, and people visit temples to seek blessings, all this invokes a feeling of peace and harmony. Some people also conduct Akhand Ramayana Path on this day, which teaches them the importance of life, love, and compassion.

Fostering Devotion And Faith: Ram Navami fosters faith and devotion among Hindus. The celebration offers a chance to seek blessings and thank Lord Rama for his protection and wisdom. Bhajans, reading of Ramayana, bring back people close to Lord Rama and help them understand the true meaning of life.

Reaffirming Cultural Values And Traditions: Festivals are a great way to transfer culture and traditions to future generations. The way we celebrate Ram Navami and the reason behind every step bring us closer to our ancestors and Lord Rama and reaffirm our faith in them by understanding why we celebrate festivals. Listening to bhajans and Ramayana tells us more about the life of Lord Rama and teaches us how to follow a path of righteousness which has been the core value of our society since the beginning.

Significance of Ram Navami for Society

Promoting Moral Values

Lord Rama’s life on earth teaches us that one must possess a firm belief in the superiority of moral standards, ethical standards, and spiritual ideals. These should work as a daily conduct roadmap and potent tools for cultivating the human self. That is the reason we are here. That is the path to realizing oneself. Ram Navami is an occasion where you get to see and learn about Rama and know how you could follow life with molar principles.

Strengthening Family Bonds

Lord Rama’s life also teaches the meaning of family. When Lord Rama was exiled for years, his brother Laxman and wife Sita left with him, leaving all the luxuries. Ram Navmi reminds us there is nothing more important than the love of family, and we should always respect each other in the family.

Fostering National Unity And Integrity

On Ram Navami, people get together and celebrate the birth of Lord Rama. Everyone greets each other with a smile on their face. Rama Navami is a celebration in the form of community events and gatherings. It gives people a chance to communicate with people around them and feel more connected and united.

Conclusion

The celebration of Ram Navami is done to mark Lord Rama’s birth, an incarnation of God Vishnu. Lord Rama was born to bring dharma back to the earth and teach people the moral principles and meaning of love and life. 

In a modern-day society where we lack vision on how to lead our lives, we can learn from the teachings of Lord Rama. Rama Navami also brings us close to our culture and traditions. Performing the Path on the Ram Navami brings good luck, prosperity, and health to you and your family. 
You could conduct Akhand Ramayan Path, Hanuman Chalisa Path, and Sundarkand Path on the day of Ram Navami. You can book pandits for this Path from SmartPuja with just one click, and everything will be taken care of by us from preparation to completion.

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