Rama Navami is a major Hindu festival that is celebrated all over India with great religious fervor. It celebrates the birthday of the lord Shri Ram. It is believed that Shri Ram, a Hindu god is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Counted as one of the most holy festivals of India, Ram Navami is celebrated on the ninth day of Hindu month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar, which corresponds to the month of April according to the Georgian calendar.
With the celebration of Ram Navami, comes to end of nine day long festival known as Vasanta Navratri. People keep fast on this auspicious day and visit the temples to pay their homage and seek blessings of the lord. Prayers are offered to the god and chanting from the Ramayana is done. Fairs are also held at various parts to mark this festival. Religious processions are also taken out to make this festival a grand event.
This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm because of the fact that Lord Rama is respected by Hindus all over the world as the personification of truth and of morality. The day of Ram Navami is also remembered for his prosperous reign in Ayodhya.
A devotee of Ram keeps fast as a part of her vrat. It is believed that if a fast is kept on Ram Navami then you will gain happiness and salvation after your death. Some devotees keep the fast for the nine long days while some fast on the ninth day only. The ancient books also record the ritual of fasting on this day. It is also believed that all wishes are fulfilled of the devotees who pray to Lord Ram on this day.
The temples of Ram are beautifully decorated with flowers and flags and the idol of the Ram are richly adorned. Lines from Ramayana are chanted inside the temples. Fairs are held on the occasion on the big fair ground. In the South India, the festival continues for none days and are referred to as Sri Ramnavami Utsavam. Vedic mantras in the praise of Lord Vishnu are also chanted. People give various offerings in the temple.