Sri Rama Navami is the ninth day of the waxing Moon of Chaitra, the day Rama was born at noon. In Kerala it is a temple festival more than a household one, kept at the handful of temples dedicated to Rama, above all Thriprayar. Kerala's great Ramayana observance is separate: in the monsoon month of Karkidakam the whole of Ezhuthachan's Adhyatma Ramayanam is read aloud at home.
The story
Thunchath Ezhuthachan, the sixteenth-century poet called the father of the Malayalam language, retold the Ramayana as a song put in the mouth of a parrot. It is this Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu, not Valmiki's, that Malayalis know by heart.
Kerala has a pilgrimage of its own for the four brothers: the Nalambalam, temples to Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, visited in a single day.
ശ്രീരാമ രാമ രാമ ശ്രീരാമചന്ദ്ര ജയ, ശ്രീരാമ രാമ രാമ ശ്രീരാമഭദ്ര ജയ
Sri Rama, Rama, Rama, victory to Sri Ramachandra; Sri Rama, Rama, Rama, victory to Sri Ramabhadra
The opening of Ezhuthachan's Adhyatma Ramayanam
How it is kept
- Temple worshipSpecial pujas at noon, the hour of the birth.
- Ramayana parayanamThe Bala Kandam is read, up to the birth.
- PanakamJaggery water and buttermilk are offered and given out.
- Nalambalam darshanamSome visit all four brothers' temples on the day.
Why this date
Rama Navami is the Navami of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, on the day it covers midday. By the Malayalam solar calendar it falls in Meenam or Medam.
Sri Rama Navami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Kerala festivals
15 AprilVishuവിഷു
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriമഹാശിവരാത്രി
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaഅക്ഷയ തൃതീയ
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiരഥസപ്തമി
17 AprilThrissur Pooramതൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം
15 JanuaryMakaravilakkuമകരവിളക്ക്
Where to see Sri Rama Navami
In Kerala
- Thriprayar Sree Rama TempleKeralaThe chief Rama temple of Kerala, on a river bank in Thrissur district; first stop of the Nalambalam circuit.
- ThiruvilwamalaKeralaA hilltop temple to Rama and Lakshmana above the Bharathappuzha.
- Thunchan Parambu, TirurKeralaThe birthplace of Ezhuthachan, now a memorial where children are started on their letters.
Across India
- AyodhyaUttar PradeshThe birthplace, where sunlight is brought on to the image at noon.
- BhadrachalamTelanganaThe day is celebrated as the wedding of Rama and Sita.
- RameswaramTamil NaduWhere Rama worshipped Shiva before the crossing.