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Ramanavami |
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The Birth of Lord Sri Rama
This nine-day Hindu festival, celebrated in the bright
fortnight in the month of Chaitra, commemorates the birth of
Lord Rama who was born to annihilate the demon King Ravana.
Ramanavami celebrates the birth of Rama or Ramachandra. The
festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the bright
fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra. In some parts of
India, it is a nine-day festival, coinciding with the Vasanta
Navaratri (see also Navaratri). It finds mention in ancient
texts and literature.
This is an occasion for great rejoicing especially for the
Vaishnavas who celebrate it with due solemnity allover the
country. The ancient texts lays tress on fasting on this day,
and it is believed that anyone who does not will go to the
worst hell. It is also said that Rama fulfills the wishes of
all those who pray to him on this day.
Lord Rama and Sita
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 called satsangs are organised to
commemorate the birth of Rama. Excerpts from the
Ramacharitamanas, extolling the glory of Rama, are recited.
People of all castes and creeds participate in these
gatherings to listen to the stories and their explanations
offered by the learned.
Ramanavami brings together people of different castes. In
earlier times, it was specified that this festival be
celebrated by all, perhaps as away to release the social
tension that existed due to the caste system. With the decline
of the caste rigidness, this festival is now celebrated to
sing the glory of a great mythical hero and is a source of
divine inspirations.
Rama, Sita and Laxmana
Ayodhya 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. Hanuman is
worshipped for his unflinching devotion to Rama, and his
worship forms an important part of the Ramanavami
celebrations.
People keep awake the whole of the ninth night, in
anticipation of Rama's birth. They sing devotional songs in
praise of him and rock his image in cradles to celebrate his
birth. There are also recitations from the Ramacharitamanas. A
special puja is performed the next morning as thanksgiving.
Though the public worship of Rama is of recent origin, his
worship inside the home dates back to the pre-Christian era.
Reference to 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. The
Ramachandrika and Vratarka expressly state that everybody is
obligated to observe this vrata, as it is the sole means of
worldly happiness and salvation. This includes members of the
lowest castes and outcastes, who were ordinarily not permitted
to observe social and religious rituals.
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