People, especially from Southern part of India has started Ram Navami celebrations at their towns and villages.

In South India, the Ram Navami festival carries on for nine days consisting of several elements of ceremony and rituals. Since the day coincides with the wedding of Rama and Sita, the mood on this day is extremely jubilant. The programs of kirtans, chantings and recitals lend a greatly inspiring and instructive tone to the Ram Navami celebration. In Andhra Pradesh, temples re-enact the marriage of Lord Rama and Sita on the final day of Ram Navami.

Sri Rama Navami The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna incarnated Himself as Sri Rama in the month of Chaitra (Mar-Apr), on the ninth day of the growing moon (Chaitra Masa Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi).

The Supreme Lord appeared as the son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya. Dasharatha was a king in the dynasty of Maharaja Ikshvaku (also known as Raghu vamsha). He had three wives: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, but had no children. On the advice of Maharishi Vashishtha, the king performed Putra Kameshti Yajna and as a result the three wives conceived sons. Kaushalya gave birth to Rama and Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata. Sumitra gave birth to the twins: Lakshmana and Shatrugna.

The life and activities of Rama are explained in detail by the great sage Valmiki in the book Ramayana. A summarized version of the Ramayana as narrated by Shukadeva Goswami to Parikshit Maharaja is included in the ninth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). Excerpts from the same can be downloaded here.

Sri Rama Navami Celebrations

At ISKCON Bangalore, the festival starts at 6:00 PM. Watch this video to see the glimpses of the festival.

Sri Rama Navami is one of the important festivals celebrated at ISKCON Bangalore. Devotees fast throughout the day till sunset and remember Sri Rama, by chanting His holy names or hearing from the Ramayana. They break the fast at sunset.

The Deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama is decorated as Rama and Lakshmana. This special alankara happens only once in a year. Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, the cowherd boys of Vrindavana, accept royal robes and appear as the princes of Ayodhya holding bows and arrows in their hands.

Sri Sri Krishna Balarama in Rama Lakshmana Alankara

In the evening the utsava vigrahas of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra are decorated as Sita Rama and taken in a procession around the temple. Devotees sing the glories of Lord Rama and chant His names.

Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra decorated as Sita Rama

After the procession, devotees perform Rama Taraka Homa by chanting the Sri Rama Ashtottara Shata Nama.

Rama Taraka Homa

After the homa, a special shayana arati is performed. Devotees sing Nama Ramayana - a song which narrates the entire Ramayana. The shayana arati is followed by a pallaki utsava.

On this day panakam and kosambari are distributed as prasadam to the visitors of the temple.

- Manohar