Rama Navami

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya; Drik Panchang places his birth at midday (madhyahna). Devotees fast, pray, sing and recite the Ramayana, chariot processions of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are held in many places, and the main celebrations are at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. The day is the one whose midday the ninth lunar day covers (the Smarta date); the Vaishnava fast can fall a day later.