Essay on “Ram Navami” Festival
Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. The day commemorates the birth of Lord Rama.
It is believed that Lord Rama was the seventh ‘avatar of Lord Vishnu. Ramayana, an ancient Hindu epic, explains that king Dasharatha of Ayodhya had three wives. But he could not parent a child. Forgetting a son, he observed a yagna to please and seek the blessings of the gods. Having heard his prayer, Lord Agni arose from the holy yagna and presented a bowl of kheer to the king, which was distributed among his queens. After some time, queen Kaushalya made Dasharatha father of Rama. Then queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata. Lakshmana and Shatrughana were born of queen Sumitra. This legendary ceremony came to be known as Ram Navami.
During the festival days, ardent devotees fast, perform puja of Lord Rama, recite devotional hymns. In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, the celebration is marked with delightful functions.
