Ramanavami
Rama Navami also known as Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of the god Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. Rama is the oldest known God having human form. It is also considered the 7th avatar of Vishnu. The holy day falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Rama navami is one of the most important festivals of the Hindus.
Like at some places the festival lasts the whole nine days like Navaratri, in RVS also the festival is celebrated for nine days. Images of the infant Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Community meals are also organized. Since Rama is believed to have been born at noon, temples and family shrines are elaborately decorated and traditional prayers are chanted together by the family in the morning.. The event marks the culmination of celebrations with the ceremonial wedding ceremony of the divine couple is held at the temple
Devotees also prepare for Akhanda Nama Japam- meaning uninterrupted chanting of Rama Rama nama through out the night. As the meaning of Akhanda Nama Japam indicates, this is a demonstration of self-discipline and a pledge that the four walls would resound with the mahamantram. In RVS we also have one full night chanting Rama Nama as Akhanda Rama nama.
