Ramnavami festival celebrated across the county

AYODHYA/ SRINAGAR - Devout Hindus in different parts of the country offered prayers in the temples on the occasion of Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Rama, on Wednesday (March 24).

At Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama in Uttar Pradesh, a large number of devotees took a holy dip in the River Saryu and visited temples to offer special prayers on the occasion.

Also hndreds of devotees visited the famous Kanak Bhawan Temple in Ayodhya.

“Hundreds of people visited the temple and sought blessings of Lord Rama. It is believed that if a person seeks the blessings of Lord Rama on this day, he attains salvation,” said Dev Morari Bapu, a priest at the Kanak Bhawan Temple.

In Srinagar, temples were lit with lamps to mark the occasion.

Devotees of all age groups thronged the temples even before the dawn carrying offerings of sweets, flowers and fruits.

“We want to follow the teachings of Lord Rama. We want that there should be peace all around. I pray on this day that violence around the world should end and all the disturbances should come to an end,” said A K Raj, a devotee.

In north India, Ramnavami festival also marked the end of the nine days of the Navaratri festival, during which many devotees observe fast to honour the goddess Durga.

According to Hindu legend, Rama was born as an incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, to eradicate evil from the earth.

Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the first fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra, which usually falls in the month of March or April. (ANI)