The celebrations of Ram Navami start with the worship of Sun God. On the day, people wake up early in the morning, take bath and pay honors to Sun God. Thereafter, they would chant mantras of Lord Rama and offers fruits and flowers to the deity. The devotees of Lord Rama would observe a whole-day fast on the festival, which they would break only in the midnight, by eating a fruit. In many parts of India, satsangs are organized by cultural committees to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama. The congregation of the devotees would sing bhajans, chant mantras in the praise of the God and listen to the legendary stories.
As a part of the celebrations, people would keep their home clean and decorate it beautifully. In the households where pujas are conducted, the pictures of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman are hung. The devotees would offer flowers, burn dhoop and incense sticks. A thali used for the performance of the pooja would typically contain prasad and other items necessary for the ritual, including roli (sacred tilak), rice, lota (container filled with water), flowers, a bell, earthen lamp or deep and a conch. Everyone in a family takes part in the puja, which is conducted by the elderly member of the family. While worshipping the deity, songs are sung. When the puja is over, prasad is distributed among all the people gathered for the worship of Lord Rama.
In many parts of India, typically South India, small idols of Lord Rama and Sita are worshipped in the households, which are take to a procession on the streets, in the evening. In many temples, Kalyanam’ (a ceremonial wedding) is performed by the temple priests. Panakam, a sweet drink prepared by mixing jaggery with ginger and pepper, is a specialty of Ram Navami in southern parts of India. The dish is prepared as a prasad. It is first offered to the deity, and then distributed amongst the devotees. When the idols of the deity are taken to a procession, the devotees often play with water and colors, to mark the birth of the God.
Hey Ram
Hey Ram, hey Ram, hey Ram, hey Ram,
Jag Mein Sacho Tero Naam. Hey Ram…
Tu Hi Mata, Tu Hi Pita Hai;
Tu hi hai Radha ka Shyam.
Tu antaryami, saba ka Swami;
tere charno me charo dham.
Tu hi bigare, tu hi savare,
es jag ke sare kaam.
Tu Hi Jagdatta, Vishava Vidhata;
Tu Hi Subah Ho, Tu Hi Sham
Hey Ram, Hey Ram, Hey Ram, Hey Ram,
Jag Me Sacho Tero Naam
Mangal Bhawan Amangal Haari
Mangal Bhawan Amangal Haari
Dhurvhu sudasrath achar bihari
Ram siya Ram siya Ram
Jai Jai Ram.
Ho, hoihee wohi jo Ram rucj rakha
ko kare taraf badhaye sakha
Ho, dheeraj dharam mitra aru nari
aapad kal parakhiye chari
Ho, Jahike jehi par satya sanehu
So tehi milay na kachu sandehu
Ho jaki rahi bhavna jaisi
raghu murati dekhi tin taisi
Raghukul reet sada chali aayi
Pran jaye par vachan na jai
Ram siya Ram siya Ram
Jai Jai Ram.
Ho, hari anant hari katha ananta
kehhi sunehi bahuvidhi sab santa
Ram siya Ram siya Ram
Jai Jai Ram.
Ganapati charan saroj gahi
Charanodak dhari bhal,
Likhau vimal Ramavali, sumiri Anjanilal.
Ram charit varnan Karaun, Ramahin hridai manai.
Madan kadan ral rakhishir, man kahan tap mitai.
Ram Ramapati Raghupati jai jai
Maha-Lokpati Jagpati jai jai.
Rajit Janak dulari jai jai
Mahinandan Prabhu-pyari jai jai.
Ratihun divas Ram dhun jahin
Magan rahat man, tan dukh nahin.
Ram saneh jasu ur hoi
Maha bhagyashali nar soi.
Rakshas dal sanhari jai jai
Maha patit tanu tari jai jai.
Ram nam jo nishdin gavat
Man vanchhit phal nishchai pavat.
Ramayudhsar jehin kar sajat
Man manoj lakhi kotihun Iajat.
Rakhahu laj hamari jai jai
Mahima agam tumhari jai jai
Rajiv nayan munin man mohai
mukut manohar shir par sohai.
Rajit mridul gat shuchi anan
Makarakrit kundal duhun kanan.
Ramchandra sarvottam jai jai
Maryada Purshottam jai jai
Ram nam gun agam ananta
Manan karat sharad shruti santa.
Rati divas dhyavahu man Rama
Man ranjan bhanjan bhav dama.
Raj bhavan, sang men nahin jaihain
Man ke hi man men rahi jaihain
Ramhin nam ant sukh daihain
Man gadhant gap kam na aihain.
Ram kahani Ramahin sunihain
Mahima Ram tabai man gunhain.
Ramhi mahan jo nit chit rakhihain
Madhukar saris madhur ras chakhihain.
Rag rang kahun kirtan thani hain
Mamta tyagi ek ras janihain.
Ram kripa tinhin par hvai hain
Man vanchhit phal abhimal paihain.
Rakshas daman kiyo jo chhan men
Maha banhu bani vicharyo van men.
Ravanadi hati gati, dai dinhyo
Mahi Ravanahin Siya vadh kinhyo.
Ram ban sut sursari dhara
Maha patkihun gati dai dara.
Ram ramit jag amit ananta
Mahima kahi na sakahin shruti santa.
Ram nam joi det bhulai
Maha nisha soi let bulai.
Ram bina ur hot andhera
man sohi dukh sahat ghanera.
Ramahi adi anadi kahavat
Mahavrti Shankar-gun gavat.
Ram nam lahi Brahma apara
Mahikar bhar shesh shir dhara.
Rakhi Ram hiya Shambhu sujana
Maha ghor vish kinhyo pana.
Ramahi mahi-lakhi lekh Maheshu
Maha pujya kari diyo Ganeshu.
Ram ramit ras ghatit bhakti ghat
Man ke bhajatahin khulat prem pat
Rajit Ram jinahin ur antar
Mahavir sam bhakta nirantar.
Ramahi linha ek sahara
Maha sindhu Kapi kinha para
Ram nam rasna ras shobha
Mardan kam krodh mad lobha.
Ram charit bhaji bhayo sugyata
Mahadeva mukti ke data.
Ramahi japat mitat bhav shula
Ram mantra yah mangal mula.
Ram nam japi jo na sudhara
Man pishach so nipat ganvara.
Ram ki mahima kahan lag gaun
mati malin man par na paun.
Ramavaii as likhi chalisa
Mati anusar dhyan Gaurisa.
Ramahi sundar rachi ras paga Math Durvasa nikat Prayaga.
Ram bhakt yahin jo nit dhyavahin
Man vanchhit phal nischai pavahin.
Doha
Ram nam nit bhajahu man. ratihun din chitlai.
Mamta matsar malinata. manastap miti jai.
Ram ka tithi budh Rohiini, Ramavali kiyabhas.
Man sahastra bhuj drug samat, magsar Sundardas.
Shri Ramachandra kripalu bhaju man,
haran bhav bhai darunam.
Nav kanj lochan, kanj mukh,
kar kanj pad kanjarunam
Kandarp aganit amit chhavi,
Navvnil jiraj sundaram,
pat pit manahun tadit ruchi,
Suchi naumi Janakasutavaram.
Bhuj din bandu dinesh danav,
dusht dalan nikandanam,
Raghunand anand kand Kaushal,
chandra Dashrath nandanam.
Sir krit kundaltilak charu,
udar ang vibhushanam,
Ajanubhuj san-chap dhar,
sangramajit kharadushanam.
iti badit Tulasidas Shankar,
shesh muni man ranjanam,
Mam hridai kanj nivas kar,
kamadi khal dal bhanjanam.
Manujahi racheu milahi so bar sahaj sundarsanvaro,
Karuna nidhan sujan silu sanehu janat ravaro.
Ehi bhanti Gauri asis suni,
Siya sahit hiya harshin ali,
TuIsi bhavanihin puji-puni mudit man mandir chali.
Jani Gauri anukal,
Siya hiya harshu na jai kahi,
Manjul mangal mul,
bam ang pharkan lage.