Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Ram Nawami festival is being celebrated throughout the country today by worshipping and paying homage to Lord Ramchandra.

Shri Ramchandra was born on the ninth day of Chaitra Shukla as the son of King Dasharath of Ayodhya and Queen Kausalyadevi in the Treta Yuga. Considered to be the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, he was born in the Punarvasu constellation. Jupiter was in conjunction with the Moon in the horoscope.

In the horoscope of Lord Ramchandra, there was a rare combination of five planets, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. Born on the ninth day of Basanti Navratri, one of the four Navratras of the year, Ram Rajya was established by ending demonic tendencies. Religious scholar and member of Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai, said the significance of celebrating the Ram Nawami was the expectation of having a dignified, disciplined and controlled state operator like Ram.

“What is still called Ram Rajya, the way all the people were happy with the reign of Ram, the present rulers should be like that, at that time the people were disciplined, dignified and controlled, this is why Ram is called Maryada Purushottam.

Regarding the importance of Ram Navami, it is stated that worshipping Ashta Matrika on Chaitra Ashtami and worshiping Ramchandra on the ninth day by chanting, reciting and meditating will be successful. On this occasion, Ramlila is performed in Janakpur of Nepal and Ayodhya of India. There is a classical belief that worshipping Goddess Ramchandra on the day of Ram Navami will bring ‘Shree’.

In ancient times, Basanti Navratri was considered as the main Dashain, but due to the extreme heat, it is celebrated in September. The Navratri of Chaitra and Asoj is celebrated with importance as Jagrut Dashain, while the Navratri of Poush and Ashar is called Supt Dashain.

Similarly, in the Agastya Samhita of the book ‘Vratarka’, it is mentioned that fasting on Chaitra Shukla Navami and worshiping Ramachandra with devotion will destroy the sins of many births and attain the abode of Vaikuntha.

The Ram Navami festival commemorates the victory of truth over evil and the remembrance of Lord Shri Ram. On this day, people from Nepal and India throng the Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur to attend the fair.

In memory of the birth of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, India, on this day in the Treta Yuga, there is a tradition of fasting, reciting Ramgeeta, spirituality, Valmiki, Tulsikrit and Bhanubhakta Ramayana and worshiping Lord Rama throughout the night.

It is mentioned in the scripture ‘Vratarka’ that by fasting and worshiping Shri Ram on this day, the desired work will be fulfilled and in the next birth, one will stay in Vaikuntha.

Ram Navami is celebrated in the memory of Shri Ram who was born as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu as the eldest son of King Dasharath of Ayodhya and the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.