Ram Navami, the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra, is doubly kept in Gujarat. At noon Rama's birth is celebrated in every Rama temple. And the same tithi is Swaminarayan Jayanti: Bhagwan Swaminarayan was born on it in 1781, at ten minutes past ten at night, and that hour is marked with an arati in the thousands of Swaminarayan temples of Gujarat and the world.
The story
Born Ghanshyam Pande at Chhapaiya near Ayodhya, he left home at eleven, walked the length of India for seven years, and settled in Gujarat, where he taught for three decades and reformed the life of the province. He built his first temple at Kalupur in Ahmedabad in 1822.
For both birthdays the day is a fast, and Rama's story is read from the Ramcharitmanas or the Gujarati Ramayana of Giradhar.
How it is kept
- FastA waterless fast for the devout, farali food for others.
- Noon aratiFor the birth of Rama, with a cradle.
- 10.10 p.m.The birth of Swaminarayan is celebrated with arati, the swinging of the cradle and kirtan.
- SabhaEvening assemblies of discourse and song.
Why this date
Ram Navami is the Navami of the bright half of Chaitra, on the day it covers midday.
Ram Navami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Gujarati festivals
7 AprilChaitra Navratriચૈત્રી નવરાત્રી
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiહનુમાન જયંતી
8 MayAkha Trijઅખાત્રીજ
23 MarchHoli and Dhuletiહોળી · ધુળેટી
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriમહાશિવરાત્રી
14 JulyDevpodhi Agiyarasદેવપોઢી અગિયારસ
Where to see Ram Navami
In Gujarat
- Swaminarayan Mandir, Kalupur, AhmedabadGujaratThe first temple of the fellowship, of carved Burma teak.
- Akshardham, GandhinagarGujaratThe pink sandstone monument of the BAPS fellowship.
- VadtalGujaratSeat of the southern diocese, where a great fair is held.
Across India
- AyodhyaUttar PradeshRama's birthplace; Chhapaiya, Swaminarayan's, lies a few miles away.
- BhadrachalamTelanganaThe day is kept as the wedding of Rama and Sita.
- NashikMaharashtraThe Kalaram temple in Panchavati.