Earlier this week (April 8th) was Ram Navami, a celebration of Lord Rama. In the North people celebrate it as Rama’s birthday and in the South as his wedding anniversary.

Who is Rama?

Rama is one of the avatars of Vishnu, just as Krishna was. His story is told in the epic The Ramayana.  To summerize the story quickly: Rama was the eldest of three sons born to the king of Ayodhya. The kings three wives all had sons, but Rama was the perfect choice for heir. He was the eldest and he was also upright and good. However, long ago his father had promised the third wife that her sons would carry the lineage and so she insists that Rama be exciled so her own son could take over the throne.

Rama agrees to the excile and he ends up going with both his wife, Sita, and his other brother Lakshmana. The brother left behind, Bharata, refused to ascend the throne and waited for Rama to return and claim it.

While exciled in the woods, Sita ends up being kidnapped by Ravana (there are a lot of details being left out, but this is an EPIC story!)

With the help of a monkey king named Hanuman, Rama and Lakshmana are able to fight Ravana and rescue Sita. However, when they return to Ayodha at last, there are questions about whether Sita was able to maintain her honor (i.e., not being raped by Ravana) and despite a trial by fire to prove her purity, she is unable to stay with Rama or become Queen.

Rama and Sita are often portrayed as the ideal man and woman. Both Sita and Hanuman display incredible loyalty and devotion to Sri Rama.

How to Celebrate?

Ayodhya is a real place that you can visit. It is packed with devotees for this event!

People may fast during this day and then feast at night. They may have chariots with images of Rama, Lakshmana, etc. driven through the streets. In the South you might see elaborate wedding celebrations (Sitarama Kalyanam).

At home, start the day with a prayer to the sun (Surya).

You can stage a wedding celebration with statues of Rama and Sita. You can also bring them out of the altar room and have a little parade at least through your home! For a birthday celebration, you can put a small murti of Rama in a cradle and rock it.

Sing bhajans and chant Rama’s name, particularly at noon which is said to be when he was born.

Panakam Recipe

by Praveen Kumar 

 Ingredients

Jaggery (Powdered) – 1 Cup.
Water – 3 Cups
Lemon – 2 Nos.
Dried ginger (Powdered) – 1 ½ Tsp.
Cardamom (Crushed) – 2 Nos.
Pepper & Salt (Crushed) – ½ Tsp.

Method:

Mix the jaggery in water and dissolve it well.
Filter the ingredients in a cloth.
Add lemon juice, dried ginger powder, Cardamom, Pepper and Salt.
Mix this well. Serve chilled.

 Bhajans