Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a major Hindu festival commemorating the birth of Rama, revered as the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu and the ideal embodiment of dharma in the epic Ramayana.[1][2]
Observed on the Navami tithi—the ninth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha)—in the lunar month of Chaitra, it typically occurs in late March or early April according to the Gregorian calendar.[2][3]
Celebrations involve rigorous fasting, often nirjala (without water), continuous recitations of the Ramayana, ritual bathing of Rama idols, and performances of Ramlila depicting his life story, emphasizing moral reflection and virtues like righteousness and devotion.[4][2][1]
The festival peaks at noon, symbolizing Rama's birth time, with special significance in Ayodhya, his purported birthplace, where temples host elaborate ceremonies and processions drawing millions of pilgrims.[2][3]