HRT3M7
Hindu Festivals
Rama Navami:
By: Alvin Li, Charles Lam, Jeff Guo & Kevin Tsang
Rama Navami
Description:
A special day of worship celebrating
the birthday of Lord Rama (one of
the seven main avatars of Vishnu.)
Takes place around noon on the
ninth day of the month of Chaitra.
(March-April.)
(On the ninth day, devotees stay up
expecting Rama’s birth.)
Rama Navami
Before Rama Navami:
- A recital of the Sanskrit epic of
24,000 stanzas takes place.
- Worshipers take a vow of fasting the previous
day.
- The house is cleaned and decorated.
- Fruits and flowers are offered on the family
shrine.
Rama Navami
During Rama Navami:
- The youngest female leads the puja.
- She applies a red mark to the
foreheads of all other family members.
- At noon, they worship an image of Rama.
- They then offer sacred foods to Rama.
(After the rituals, the image of Rama
is given to a Brahmin.)
Rama Navami
When one performs the ritual
properly, it is said that they
have destroyed one's sins.
The full, complete ritual is not
commonly performed these days,
compared to centuries ago.
(Ex. Only the highlights of the epic
are read during the ritual.)
Rama Navami
History:
The festival of Rama Navami originated from the
epic Ramayana:
It tells of an emperor with three wives, who
worries that there will be no heir to the throne
since none of his wives had any children.
The emperor is suggested to partake in yajna.
Rama Navami
Ramayana:
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As the result, he is provided with a bowl
of payasam (preparation of rice and milk)
which he is requested to give to his
wives.
In just a few days all three queens give
birth, with one of them giving birth to
Rama after nine days.
(Because of the unequal distribution of the
payasam, one the king’s wife gives birth to twins.)
Rama Navami
Traditional foods eaten
during Rama Navami
include pastries, desserts
and sweets, representing
the payasam from the
Ramayana epic.
Rama Navami
Purpose:
Rama Navami is an important
day for worshipers of Rama or
Vishnu since it marks the birth
of this important avatar.
- Performing Rama Navami is
said to help devotees reach
Moksha
- Also, it is said that those who
do not fast will go to the worst
hell while those who pray will
have their wishes fulfilled
Rama Navami
In one of the famous stories of
Ramayana, Rama attempts to
save his beloved wife Sita. Sita
was captured by Ravana who
was a rival monarch. Rama
defeated his magical army and
rescued Sita.
Rama Navami
Rama is considered to be
the perfect man who is
dedicated to dharma and
compassion.
People who worship Rama
are striving to become
perfect beings by
replicating Rama's perfect
actions.