Festival · Chaitra Shukla Navami
Rama Navami 2026
Rama is born at noon on Chaitra Shukla Navami. The cradle rocks at the temple, and everyone sings: Shri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram!
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for Dubai. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asRam Janmotsav, Shri Ram Navami
- WhereAll of India; big celebrations at Ayodhya and Bhadrachalam
- Puja forRama, with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman
- In one lineThe day Rama was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya.
Rama Navami, in a little more detail
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About the festival
Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Rama Navami is the ninth and last day of Chaitra Navratri.
Rama is held up as the ideal king and the ideal person: he kept his word, went into exile because his father asked it, and was fair to everyone.
So today is more than a birthday. It's a reminder to bring a little of Rama into how you live: tell the truth, keep your word, be fair.
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Four princes are born
King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had three queens, Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, but no child.
He held a sacrifice led by the sage Rishyasringa. From its fire rose a divine figure holding a pot of rice and milk, and the king shared it among his queens.
Kausalya bore Rama, Kaikeyi Bharata, and Sumitra the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. With four sons, Dasharatha's wish was fulfilled.
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In Maharashtra and beyond
At Rama temples, kirtan and Ramayana readings run for nine days from Gudi Padwa. On Navami at noon, the hour of his birth, the cradle is rocked, gulal flies and sunthavada goes round as prasad.
Many fast, and recite the Ramraksha or chant Rama's name. In the evening Rama's palkhi or chariot goes out in procession.
In Ayodhya pilgrims bathe in the Sarayu before going to the Ram temple. Bhadrachalam in Telangana holds a great festival, and in Karnataka people hand out panaka, a cool jaggery drink, in the streets.
How to do the puja
In short: Rama's name through the morning, the birth and the cradle at noon, then the aarti and sunthvada.
- 1Bathe in the morning, and choose your fast: a full fast, fruit and milk, or one meal after the birth.Many fast until the birth. If you're unwell, pregnant or elderly, eat simply.
- 2Set Rama's picture on a clean chaurang, with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman if you have them.A photo of Rama works just as well.
- 3Decorate a small cradle and keep it ready.No cradle? A small swing or a patta with a cloth will do.
- 4Offer sandalwood paste, haldi first and then kunku, flowers and a garland.Kewda, champa, chameli and jai are the flowers offered to Rama. Haldi and kunku go at his feet.
- 5Spend the morning with Rama's name: the Ramraksha, a Ramayana reading or the Geet Ramayan.Temples read the Ramayana and hold kirtan for nine days from Gudi Padwa; that ends today too.
- 6At noon, the hour of the birth, lay the infant Rama in the cradle and sing the birth palna.Your city's madhyahna, the noon window, is above.
- 7Do the aarti, and shower flowers or gulal for joy.Temples pause the kirtan at this hour for the birth.
- 8Share sunthvada and panakam as prasad, then break the fast.Naivedya goes to God first, then to everyone.
What you needTick as you go
0 of 12 ready
Frequently asked questions
At what time is Rama's birth celebrated?
At noon, with the sun overhead: madhyahna. Your city's time is above. Homes and temples rock the cradle then.
How is panakam made?
Jaggery dissolved in water, with a little dry ginger and cardamom. It cools you in the heat, and in Karnataka it is handed out in the streets.
Do I have to fast?
No. Many fast until the birth, but the puja, the cradle and Rama's name with all your heart are enough. If you're unwell, health comes first.
Does Chaitra Navratri end on Rama Navami?
Yes. Chaitra Navratri, begun on Gudi Padwa, ends on Rama Navami. Many homes and temples read the Ramayana or sing the Geet Ramayan for the nine days.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.