7 facts about Ram Navami that you should know of

Today is Ram Navami, which is celebrated all over India as Lord Ram's birthday. Religious texts say that Lord Ram is the ultimate man and is known as Purshottam. Ram Navami is a festival dedicated to Lord Ram who was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu who took the form of a human and took birth as King Dasharath’s first son in Ayodhya.

Here are a few facts about this festival that you must know of

1. This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who killed the demon Ravana and freed thousands of humans and his wife, Seeta from his despotic rule.
2. Ramnavmi is celebrated every year on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the month Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar. Hence, it is also called as Chaitra Maas Shukla Paksha Navami. It is declared as a public holiday in most parts of India
3.  Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, he was the eldest son of King Dasharath and Kaushalya. To fulfill his father's promise, he abandoned his kingdom and left for the forest with his wife and brother.
4.  As Lord Rama was believed to be born at mid-day, a special prayer is performed at this time on this day. People sing devotional songs in praise of Rama and rock the cradle withholding the image of Lord Rama as a child.
5.  This festival is celebrated for 9 days in some places of India. Bhajans and Kirtans ( devotional songs ) are held for 9 days. Food and clothes are donated on this day as a donation is considered to be good Karma by Hinduism. Many people even fast on this day.
6. Lord Rama is one of the most popular deities of Hindus. He inherits the sun dynasty and he is an ideal for all Hindu society because of his characteristics like righteousness, honesty, an ideal king, an ideal son and remaining honest with his wife throughout.
7.  This festival is celebrated on a large scale at Lord Rama's birthplace, Ayodhya. Thousands of people bathe in the river Sharayu on this occasion.

The Rama Navami Puja Muhurta this year is from 11:04 to 13:37

Duration = 2 Hours 32 Mins
Rama Navami Madhyahna Moment = 12:21

Navami Tithi Begins = 21:29 on 14/Apr/2016
Navami Tithi Ends = 22:03 on 15/Apr/2016

Due to the widespread use of the western clock and Gregorian calendar people assume 12 p.m. as Madhyahna moment. This could have been correct if sunrise and sunset occur exactly at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively but at most places sunrise and sunset timings are different from six O’clock. Hence, the exact time to celebrate the birthday of Lord Rama falls between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for most Indian cities.

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