Ram Navami is one of the prominent festivals of Hindus in India. The festival,
which marks the birth of Lord Rama - the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu - is
celebrated with gusto, by people in different parts of the country. According to
the legends, Lord Rama was born as the eldest son of Dashratha, the king of
Ayodhya, and Kaushalya. Lord Rama is worshiped as one of the most influential
deities - he is regarded the epitome of humankind, a perfect son, an ideal
husband and father. In fact, he is one among the most worshipped Gods of
Hinduism. Many Hindu temples in India are especially dedicated to the deity. On
the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami, Lord Rama temples are flocked by his
devotees.
The celebrations of Ram Navami are marked by fasting, chanting mantras and
singing bhajans in the praise of Lord Rama. Although people in different parts
of the country celebrate the festival in their own ways, the thought amongst
them remains one and the same - to offer their prayers to the deity and honor
his birth. Out of the traditions of Ram Navami, fasting stands out as one of the
most popular ones, followed since ages. On the wonderful occasion of Rama Navami,
the devotees of Lord Rama observe a whole-day fast, as a part of the
festivities. After offering prayers to the deity, they break the fast in the
midnight, by eating fruit. Explore the article to know more about Ram Navami
fast (vrat).
Ram Navami Vrat
The followers of Lord Rama would observe a whole-day fast on the festival of Ram
Navami. The fast is also called vrat. Although it is not mandatory to observe a
waterless fast (nirahar vrat), many people observe a stringent fast, when they
would not drink a drop of water until midnight, when they break the fast. On the
other hand, those who prefer to follow a particular diet for the fast, are
recommended to eat certain foodstuffs including potatoes made in any form
without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. Sendha namak (rock salt) is
used for the preparation of food for Rama Navami fast. While on a fast, the
person can also eat curd, milk, tea, coffee, fruits and root vegetanbles.
Significance Of Fasting On Ram Navami
Like most of the Hindu festivals, fasting holds special significance in the
celebrations of Ram Navami too. It is believed that when a devotee observes fast
on Rama Navami, with sincerity and immense devotion, he/she is blessed with
health, wealth and prosperity for the year ahead. Therefore, it has been a
tradition since a long time to observe fast on the festival. This perception has
been supported by the ancient religious texts of Hinduism, according to which,
fasting is the only mean of gaining happiness it the material world and
achieving salvation at the same time. Moreover, Rama Navami vrat is considered
as the five of the most important fasts in the ancient times. |
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