28th March, 2015 will be celebrated as Ram Navami, a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of the god Rama. As per the Hindu calendar, Ram Navami falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra. This Chaitra Masa Shuklapaksha Navami also marks the end of nine-day Chaitra Navratri. It is said that Lord Vishnu took birth as Rama – oldest known god having human form, to slain the demon Ravana. Lord Rama was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Ram Navami is the time when all Lord Rama devotees celebrate the birth of Lord Rama.
According to the legend, when the five planets and the sun were in the first house of cancer at noon along with the lunar asterism Pushya, Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya. As per vedic astrology, it is considered to an extremely auspicious moment. On day day of Ram Navami, devotees undertake a fast in the name of Lord Rama. Those who are more devout fast for nine days, from Gudi Padwa to Rama Navami. The fasts are undertaken not to ask for special favours of the deity but to seek perfection as a human being. Many people organize a Ramayana parayana, a discourse on the Ramayana, by a pundit at their home which usually lasts 9 days. The belief is that listening to the story of Rama cleanses the soul and chanting his name eases the pains of life.
The celebration of Ram Navami intends to glorify the role of Lord Rama in representing the supreme qualities like courage and sacrifice. He was also the true embodiment of humanity. Ram Navami is a therefore a special reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama stood.
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