Ram Navami in 2024

Ram Navami in 2024 - Discover everything about Rama Navami

Ram Navami in 2024 will witness unprecedented celebrations and hold a special place in the memories of Ram devotees, especially residents of Ayodhya who are elated over the newly constructed Ram Mandir. Reportedly, the Temple Trust of Ayodhya Mandir is bracing up to receive at least 25 to 30 lakh visitors who are all eager to offer prayers to Ram Lalla. While chanting the mantra of Lord Ram and mere thoughts about him is believed to invoke growth in self-esteem, let’s immerse in the significance of Rama Navami in the following lines, by discussing everything associated with this festival that hails the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

Significance of Rama Navami: Lord Rama’s birth purpose and his observance of virtue

Lord Rama’s birth purpose should begin with a mention of Ravana, who was considered an unsurpassed devotee of Lord Shiva. When meditations fall into evil hands, destruction begins and Ravana was no different in this account. He set a well-thought-out ultimatum about his death conditions which were tough to be met with. Unfortunately, he underestimated the might of humans who were carelessly excluded in the death conditions drafted by Ravana.

This paved the way for Lord Rama’s birth purpose and was enough for the virtuous souls to save themselves. The problem with demons is that their egos refuse to accommodate co-existence and leave all the angels rushing towards Vishnu, screaming for help.

Ram has a sister named Shanta who married Rishyasringa, the sage who conducted the ‘putra kameshti yagna’ in which the four sons of Dasaratha were born. Interestingly, not only Ram, but also his three brothers are incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Bharata and Shatrughna are incarnations of the Sudarshana Chakra, Lakshmana is the incarnation of Sesha or serpent on whom Vishnu rests.

When a common man’s intellect is too poor to distinguish good and bad or analyze the consequences of their actions, they could turn to Ramayana and Mahabharata for reference, since Ram’s actions must be imitated and Mahabharata actions should be avoided, including Yudhisthira and Arjuna. Ram's obedience to parents, his faith and commitment to his wife and brothers, his concern for his subjects, his fearlessness in the face of adversaries, and his role as the preserver of this planet, destroyer of enemies, and defender of all living things are all qualities that still need to be upheld today.

Lunar Calendar birth date and spring festival

The event takes place on the ninth day of the bright half, or Shukla Paksha, of the Chaitra lunar cycle, which occurs in the Hindu calendar's first month of March to April. It is a feature of the springtime Chaitra Navaratri festival as well.

After nine days of worshipping the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga, known as Chaitra Navratri, it is said that Lord Ram and his three brothers, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan, descended to Earth. On this day, people go to temples honoring Lord Ram, often referred to as ‘Maryada Purushottam,’ and offer prayers asking him to guide them toward the proper way to live and act.

The meaning of the words ‘Maryada Purushottam’ is multifaceted. ‘Maryada’ signifies ‘good conduct’ in a general sense, while ‘Purushottam’ denotes superiority among males. Ram, then, represents the best of all men since he lived his entire life adhering to ‘maryada.’

In 2024, Wednesday, April 17, will be Rama Navami. The birth took place in the middle of the Hindu day, during the Madhyahna time. The best time to do Rama Navami Puja ceremonies is during Madhyahna, which lasts for six Ghatis, or roughly two hours and thirty-five minutes. Temples represent the halfway of Madhyahan as the birth moment of Lord Rama, and this is also the period when Shri Rama was born. This is the pinnacle of the celebration when the recital of Shri Rama is done.

The Gregorian calendar and the widespread use of the Western clock have led many people to believe that noon is Madhyahna moment. This would have been true if sunrise and sunset happened precisely at six in the morning and six in the evening, respectively, however, most localities have differing sunrise and sunset times from six o'clock. Therefore, the precise range of time to commemorate Lord Rama's birthday is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rituals associated with Rama Navami

There are regional variations in the Rama Navami ceremonies and customs across India. Recitations from the Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Rama, are performed to commemorate the day. Hindus who practice Vaishnavism commemorate the occasion by going to temples, praying, fasting, attending spiritual talks, and leading devotional song circles (kirtans) or bhajans. Some devotees place an image of Rama in a cradle as a way to worship him like a baby. There are also planned community dinners and charitable events. For many Hindus, the festival serves as a time for moral introspection.

This day is significant for festivities in Ayodhya and many other Rama temples across India. There are various locations where Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman conduct their chariot processions or ratha yatras. Many people in Ayodhya visit the Rama temple after taking a dip in the holy Sarayu river.

Regional variations of Rama Navami celebrations

In North India, elaborate processions portraying episodes from the Ramayana are performed, particularly at Ayodhya, which is reputed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. Additionally, people attend Rama Navami melas, or fairs, where a variety of cultural events are scheduled.

In the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the day of Ram Navami is also commemorated as the day that Lord Ram wed Mother Sita. All devotees wishing to commemorate the day congregate at the Rameswaram Temple, which is situated in Tamil Nadu. Devotees swarm Bhadrachalam in Telangana to see Ram and his whole family.

People wielding swords and tridents, accompanied by tableaus adorned with saffron flags, carrying idols of Ram Darbar, and dressed as Ram, Laxman, Sita, and Hanuman, take part in demonstrations across East India, particularly in Kolkata.

The event is observed in Maharashtra with bhajans and the reciting of the Ramayana. Before Ram Navami, some devotees also observe a nine-day fast known as 'Navaratri.'

Wrapping up

Let's conclude our conversation about Rama Navami by inhaling deeply and chanting in a lovely, rhythmic tone while sitting in the ideal yogic stance with a straight spine. It's now time to recite Ra-a Ma-a, also known as ‘Shri Ram, Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram,’ which is highly prosperous, particularly on Rama Navami. Peace, patience, and the fulfillment of one's goals are experienced by those who worship Lord Ram and chant his mantras, also known as Ram mantras. In addition to reciting these mantras, groups can also recite the Hanuman Chalisa, Sundar Kand, and Ram Raksha Stotra.