Happy birthday, Lord Rama!

Today is a special festival (and a holiday) for Hindus all over India as it is Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama. As you know, he was said to be the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born on Earth to destroy evil and the demon Ravana.


For those of you who don't remember the story, here goes: King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had three wives and no children. So he enlists a famous rishi to perform a yagnya or ritual that will help his wives bear children. A divine being, Yagneshwara, appears and gives Dasharatha a bowl of pudding to give to his wives. After a few days all three Queens conceive and on the ninth day (or Navami), at noon, Kausalya gives birth to Rama, Kaikeyi gives birth to Bharata, and Sumitra to twin boys, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.


On this day, people perform poojas and bhajans, offering the deity fruits and flowers. Many also go out on processions. Some people fast all day, and celebrate in the evening. In some parts of India priests perform a ceremonial wedding between Rama and his wife Sita. True-blue devotees make their way to the holy places of Ayodhya in UP, Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.














Source for pics: www.salagram.net, www.punditravi.com, www.iloveindia.com, www,anubhavati.worspress.com