Festivals have been of cultural significance ever since human civilization has known. Celebrations make up a part of people’s everyday lives and inspire thoughts of a better perspective. India, of all other nations, is known for its Unity in Diversity which stretches across all boundaries. People of various religions, caste, gender join together to become a functional unit. Our vibrant cultures rare evident of this aspect and the nation’s economy thrives on this triumph over differences.
Festivals in India have originated from various beliefs and traditions. Whether it is celebrating to worship a deity or to build bonds of trust, festivals have originated for all good reasons and are celebrated with complete vigour. One of such festivals has been Ram Navami.
Ram Navami Celebration
The festival is generally celebrated in the months of March or April. A popular festival especially among the Vaishnavs of the Hindu Caste, Ram Navami marks the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. People celebrate this day with devotion and joy, organize devotional song recitation and worship the infant, Lord Rama.
In the southern parts, the festival of Rama Navami is symbolic of the onset of preparations for the widely popular Jagannath Ratha Yatra. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Bihar, and some more southern states are the ones where the roots of the festival are quite deep.
To celebrate & show their dedication, people worship the miniature statues of the deity, perform their daily duties of bathing them, and putting them in a comfortable cradle. Devotees fast during this period. It is believed to help achieve salvation to the soul.
Historical Significance behind Ram Navami
Every year, Ram Navami falls on the ninth which is also the last day of the Chaitra Navratri. Lord Rama is the seventh form of Lord Vishnu. The occasion of Ram Navami celebrates the birth anniversary of the deity as he descended upon the earth, as the son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kaushalaya.
Although the festival is about Lord Rama, people also celebrate it as a reverence to the deities Sita, Hanuman, Lakshmana, and Surya. The festival denotes the win of Good over evil.
In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, the day comprises of taking a dip in the popularly referred to sacred River Sarayu followed by a visit to the Rama Temple. The early morning routine comprises offering water to the Sun God as a sign of respect. Surya is an ancestor of Lord Rama.
Festivals have always been the heart of India. They bring a sense of Joy, Devotion, and freshness to the minds of individuals. With the pomp and celebrations, precaution to stop crowding is of utmost necessity. So, celebrate each and every festival because Ye Bhi Theek Hai!