Rama Navami is the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra. In Odisha it is the high point of a season of Ramalila: for nine or more nights, villages across the southern and western districts perform the Ramayana in the open with masks, music and all the men of the village as actors. Temples celebrate the birth at noon, and the day falls within the spring Navaratri of the goddess.
The story
Odisha has a Ramayana of its own. In the fifteenth century Balarama Dasa retold it in Odia as the Jagamohana Ramayana, also called the Dandi Ramayana, and later Upendra Bhanja turned it into the ornate verse of the Baidehisha Bilasa.
At Puri the story is staged in the streets as the Sahi Jatra, with each neighbourhood taking an episode.
How it is kept
- JanmaThe birth is celebrated in temples at noon.
- RamalilaNightly performances, ending some days later with the death of Ravana.
- Sahi JatraIn Puri, costumed processions of the Ramayana's characters.
- PanaA cool drink of bel, jaggery and curd is offered.
Why this date
Rama Navami is the Navami of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, on the day it covers midday.
Rama Navami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Odia festivals
22 MarchDola Purnimaଦୋଳ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiହନୁମାନ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ
14 AprilPana Sankrantiପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaଅକ୍ଷୟ ତୃତୀୟା
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriମହା ଶିବରାତ୍ରି
15 JuneRajaରଜ
Where to see Rama Navami
In Odisha
- OdagaonOdishaThe Raghunath temple in Nayagarh district, with wooden images of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
- PuriOdishaThe Sahi Jatra, a week of street theatre from Rama Navami.
- AsureswarOdishaKnown for one of the oldest Ramalilas of the state, with masks.
Across India
- AyodhyaUttar PradeshThe birthplace, with the noon worship of the infant Rama.
- BhadrachalamTelanganaThe wedding of Rama and Sita on the Godavari.
- RameswaramTamil NaduWhere the bridge to Lanka began.