Sri Rama Navami is the ninth day of Chaitra, the day Rama was born in Ayodhya at noon. Telugu tradition adds something of its own: on this day Sita Rama Kalyanam, the wedding of Rama and Sita, is performed in every Rama temple and under a pandal in every village. The grandest is at Bhadrachalam, on the Godavari.
The story
Rama was born to Kausalya and Dasaratha on the ninth tithi of Chaitra, under the star Punarvasu, with the Sun high. The nine days from Ugadi to this day are Vasantha Navaratri, the nine nights of spring.
The temple at Bhadrachalam was built in the seventeenth century by Kancherla Gopanna, a revenue official of the Golconda sultanate, who spent the taxes he had collected on it and was imprisoned for twelve years. The songs he composed in prison are still sung, and he is remembered as Bhakta Ramadasu. Ever since, the ruler of the land has sent pearls and silk for the wedding: the Qutb Shahis, then the Nizams, and today the state government.
శ్రీరామ రామ రామేతి రమే రామే మనోరమే । సహస్రనామ తత్తుల్యం రామనామ వరాననే
Sri Rama, Rama, Rama: in that delightful name I delight. The one name of Rama is equal to the thousand names
Shiva to Parvati, in the Vishnu Sahasranamam
How it is kept
- Sita Rama KalyanamThe wedding is performed at noon. The mangalasutram is tied, and talambralu, rice mixed with turmeric and pearls, is poured over the divine couple.
- Panakam and vadapappuJaggery water spiced with pepper and cardamom, and soaked moong dal, are offered and handed to everyone: cooling food for the first hot days.
- ChalivendramStalls giving free drinking water and buttermilk are opened on this day and kept going through the summer.
- The pandalVillages put up a pandal for nine days of music, harikatha and readings from the Ramayana.
- PattabhishekamThe coronation of Rama is celebrated on the following day.
Why this date
Rama was born at midday, and many almanacs choose the day on which Navami covers noon. Telugu practice, which this calendar follows, keeps the festival on the day Navami is in force at sunrise; in some years that is a day later than the date given elsewhere in India.
Sri Rama Navami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday | |
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Friday |
More Telugu festivals
19 MarchUgadiఉగాది
12 MayHanuman Jayantiహనుమజ్జయంతి
19 AprilAkshaya Tritiyaఅక్షయ తృతీయ
3 MarchHoliహోళీ
15 FebruaryMaha Sivaratriమహా శివరాత్రి
25 JulyTholi Ekadasiతొలి ఏకాదశి
Where to see Sri Rama Navami
In the Telugu states
- BhadrachalamTelanganaThe wedding is held in the open Mithila Stadium beside the temple, before a crowd of lakhs, with the state bringing the pearls.
- Kodandarama Temple, VontimittaAndhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh's state celebration. Here the wedding is held at night, by the light of the moon, a few days after Navami.
- RamatheerthamAndhra PradeshAn old Rama shrine on a hill near Vizianagaram, among Buddhist remains.
Across India
- Ram Mandir, AyodhyaUttar PradeshThe birthplace. At noon a beam of sunlight is directed on to the forehead of the image.
- Ramanathaswamy Temple, RameswaramTamil NaduWhere Rama is said to have worshipped Shiva before crossing to Lanka.
- Kalaram Temple, NashikMaharashtraIn Panchavati, where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived in exile; the chariot procession follows two days later.