Ram Navami 2024: Know The Date, Puja Timings, Rituals, History, and Celebrations

Rama Navami is a happy time that reminds us to stay faithful and do what¡¯s right. It¡¯s not just about celebrating Lord Rama's birthday but also the good things he stands for. People fast, pray at home and in temples, read the Ramayana (a story about Rama), and watch plays about Rama¡¯s life called Ramlila.

Ram Navami is also the conclusion of the Navaratri fasts. Throughout this period, individuals honour the nine forms of Goddess Durga, seeking blessings for their loved ones. They also conduct Kanya puja, presenting prasad and gifts to girls, and seeking their blessings in return. Here's everything you need to know about Ram Navami, including its date, history, significance, and more.

When is Ram Navami 2024?

The ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which usually corresponds to March or April in the Gregorian calendar, is when Rama Navami is celebrated. In 2024, the auspicious day of Ram Navami will be observed on Wednesday, April 17.

Ram Navami Puja Timings 2024

• Date: April 17, 2024, Wednesday
• Madhyahna Muhurat: 11:03 am to 01:38 pm (Length: 02 minutes, 35 seconds)

About Ram Navami

Happy Ram Navami | Photo: Freepik

Ram Navami is one of the most important and major Hindu festivals. It marks the birthday of Lord Shri Ram also known as Maryada Purushottama, who is believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is highly respected for his goodness, fairness, and being a perfect person, earning him the title Maryada Purushottam.

Lord Shri Ram was born in the afternoon, so he is worshipped during this time on Ram Navami. People go to temples, pray, do rituals, fast, and chant prayers to seek blessings and wisdom from Lord Ram on this day.

This festival is celebrated widely among Hindus in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and by some Hindus in North America and Europe.

Ram Navami's Rituals, Traditions and celebration

• Devotees gather in homes or religious sites to sing bhajans and kirtans dedicated to Lord Rama.
• Many people visit temples to seek blessings during this auspicious day.
• In places like Ayodhya, processions feature miniature statues of Rama placed on cradles.
• Temples often conduct "Havana," a fire ritual aimed at purifying the mind, body, and soul.
• Priests distribute sweets and fruits to devotees as "prasad."
• Devotees typically fast throughout the day until midnight, breaking their fast with sweets and fruits.
• Ramlila, a theatrical depiction of Lord Rama defeating Ravana, is performed in various parts of the country on open-air stages.
• Major celebrations occur in Ayodhya, Bhadrachalam, Rameswaram, and Sitamarhi, with worship of deities such as Sita, Laxman, and Hanuman alongside Lord Rama.
• While the nation as a whole is enthralled with Ram Navami, some cities¡ªlike Ayodhya, Bhadrachalam, Rameswaram, and Sitamarhi¡ªbecome focal points of majesty and devotion. These places deck themselves out in splendor, drawing pilgrims from all over to join in the heavenly celebrations.

What is the History of Ram Navami?

The story of Lord Rama is told in Valmiki's Ramayana, a very important book in Hinduism dating back to around the 8th or 7th century B.C. Ayodhya was doing very well when King Dashrath ruled there, but he didn't have any children to carry on his legacy. So, he held a special ceremony called a Yagya. During this ceremony, many wise people and gods prayed to Lord Brahma, asking him to grant Dashrath's wish.

Meanwhile, Ravana, who was the ruler of Lanka, was causing a lot of trouble. He had been given a special power by Lord Brahma, which meant that he couldn't be killed by gods, spirits, or demons, only by humans. Ravana was very strong and had magical weapons and could change his shape, making him very hard to defeat. So, all the gods asked Lord Vishnu to come to earth and defeat Ravana.

After the Yagya ceremony was over, a divine being appeared and gave Dashrath a special drink called 'payasam' to share with his wives Kausalya, Kaikayi, and Sumitra. Kausalya had a son named Rama, Kaikayi had Bharat, and Sumitra had twins named Laxman and Shatrughna.

Legends and Tales Linked with Lord Rama

Lord Rama's life is like a big storybook filled with legends and tales that show his good qualities and his fights against bad things. Here are some of the most famous ones:

The Birth and Early Life

Lord Rama was born to King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and was supposed to become king. But some problems in the palace made him leave for 14 years, showing how he kept doing his duty even when things were hard for him.

Sita's Wedding and Kidnapping

Rama won the chance to marry Sita, a princess known for being beautiful and good, by doing something very difficult. While they were away from home, the bad demon king Ravana took Sita away because he liked her, which started a big battle.

The Trip to Lanka

Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana and the monkey god Hanuman, went on a dangerous journey to Lanka to save Sita. This journey shows how important it is to stay loyal and keep trying even when things are tough.

Hanuman's Loyalty

Hanuman did a very important job. He went into Lanka, met Sita, and then burned down part of the city, showing how devoted and brave he was.

The Fight with Ravana

There was a big war between Rama and Ravana. Rama, with his goodness and skills in shooting arrows, finally won, showing that good things can beat bad things.

The Test with Fire

After saving Sita, Rama, because some people doubted if she was good, asked her to walk through fire to show she was faithful. Sita did it and came out safe, proving she was faithful to Rama.

Coming Back Home and Becoming King

Rama finally came back to Ayodhya, where he became king, making everything right again according to what's good.

Holiday on Ram Navami

Ram Navami is a big and special festival for Hindus. It celebrates the birth of Lord Rama in Ayodhya during Treta Yuga. Millions of devotees around the world celebrate this day, also known as Shri Ram Janmotsav. According to the Drik Panchang, Ram Janmotsav falls on Navami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.

On Ram Navami, banks in India close for the holiday. But remember, the exact dates can vary by state, set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Here's the list of cities where banks will be closed on Ram Navami 2024:

On the occasion of Ram Navami banks will be closed in Ahmedabad, Belapur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana), Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Ranchi, Shimla

Although physical bank branches will be closed, online banking services will still be available. So, you can still manage your banking needs without any major interruptions.

Happy Ram Navami 2024 wishes, messages, and quotes to share on WhatsApp

• "Wishing you a joyous Ram Navami filled with blessings, peace, and prosperity. May the divine grace of Lord Rama be with you always."
• "On this auspicious day of Ram Navami, may Lord Rama shower his divine blessings upon you and your loved ones. Happy Ram Navami!"
• "May the divine light of Lord Rama guide you towards righteousness and happiness. Wishing you a blessed Ram Navami!"
• "Sending heartfelt wishes on the occasion of Ram Navami. May the divine presence of Lord Rama bring love, harmony, and success into your life."
• "As we celebrate the birth of Lord Rama, let us strive to follow his teachings of truth, righteousness, and compassion. Happy Ram Navami!"
• "On this holy day of Ram Navami, may your heart be filled with devotion and your home with happiness. Warm wishes to you and your family."
• "May the divine blessings of Lord Rama fill your life with peace, prosperity, and success. Wishing you a blessed Ram Navami!"
• "As we commemorate the birth of Lord Rama, let us remember his virtues and strive to emulate them in our lives. Happy Ram Navami!"
• "May the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami fill your life with joy, peace, and fulfillment. Warm wishes on this divine day."
• "On the auspicious day of Ram Navami, may Lord Rama bless you with strength, courage, and wisdom to overcome all obstacles. Happy Ram Navami!"

Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.

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