Ram Navami 2027 falls on Thursday, 15 April. It celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, on the ninth day (Navami) of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, and is the final day of Chaitra Navratri. This guide covers the date and puja time, the story of Rama’s birth, the puja vidhi, fasting rules, mantras and how the day is celebrated across India.
When Is Ram Navami 2027 and What Is the Puja Time?
| Date | Thursday, 15 April 2027 |
| Tithi | Chaitra Shukla Navami |
| Birth moment (Madhyahna) | About 12:20 PM IST (New Delhi) |
| Also | Last day of Chaitra Navratri |
Tradition holds that Rama was born at midday, so the main puja is performed during Madhyahna, the middle portion of the day, roughly two hours either side of noon. Madhyahna is calculated from local sunrise and sunset, so the exact time varies by city — please confirm with your local Panchang.
What Is the Story of Rama’s Birth?
According to the Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda, chapter 18), King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, longing for an heir, performed the putrakameshti yajna. From the sacred fire emerged a divine being bearing payasam, which the king shared among his queens. Kaushalya gave birth to Rama on the Navami of Chaitra, under the Punarvasu nakshatra; Kaikeyi to Bharata; and Sumitra to the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Rama is revered as Maryada Purushottam — the perfect man who never transgressed the bounds of dharma: the ideal son, husband, brother and king. Ram Navami is therefore a day to remember and live by those values.
How Do You Prepare for Ram Navami Puja?
- Clean the home, especially the puja area, the day before.
- Set up the altar with an image or idol of the Ram Darbar — Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman — and, if you have one, a small cradle for baby Rama.
- Decorate with a toran of mango leaves, yellow flowers and diyas.
Puja Samagri
Gangajal, tulsi leaves, fruits, panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar), incense, akshat (unbroken rice), sandalwood paste, kumkum, saffron, betel leaves, a kalash, yellow cloth, flowers and a diya.
How Do You Perform Ram Navami Puja Step by Step?
- Sankalp: sit facing east, hold water and akshat, and take a vow to observe Ram Navami with devotion.
- Kalash sthapana: place a kalash of water topped with mango leaves.
- Abhishek: bathe the idol with water and panchamrit, chanting Om Shri Ramaya Namah.
- Shringar: dress the idol in yellow cloth and apply sandalwood tilak.
- Birth moment: at Madhyahna, gently rock the cradle and ring bells to welcome Rama’s birth.
- Naivedya: offer panakam (a jaggery and pepper drink), kosambari or fruits, and kheer.
- Katha and aarti: read the account of Rama’s birth from the Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas, then perform aarti.
What Are the Ram Navami Fasting Rules?
- Phalahar vrat (most common): fruits, milk, dry fruits, sabudana and singhara flour dishes.
- Satvik fast: no grains, with one simple vegetarian meal after the puja or at sunset.
- Nirjala vrat: no food or water until the puja, kept by some experienced devotees.
| Allowed | Avoided |
|---|---|
| Fruits, milk, curd | Wheat and rice |
| Sweet potato | Onion and garlic |
| Sabudana khichdi | Pulses and ordinary salt |
| Coconut water | Processed food |
| Makhana kheer | Alcohol and meat |
For vrat recipes, see this sabudana khichdi recipe. The fast is broken after the midday puja or at sunset, according to family tradition.
Ram Navami falls in April heat: drink water regularly unless keeping a nirjala fast. Children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with diabetes or another medical condition should not keep a nirjala fast.
Which Mantras Should You Chant on Ram Navami?
- Rama Taraka Mantra: Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram — the thirteen-syllable mantra popularised by Samarth Ramdas.
- Shadakshari mantra: Om Ramaya Namah.
- Ram Raksha Stotra: a protective hymn attributed to the sage Budha Kaushika.
- Hanuman Chalisa: many devotees also recite the Hanuman Chalisa, honouring Rama’s greatest devotee.
Chanting 108 times on a mala is traditional.
How Is Ram Navami Celebrated Across India?
- Ayodhya: the grandest celebrations take place at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, with devotees bathing in the Sarayu river.
- North India: Shobha Yatra processions and temple celebrations, and the end of the Chaitra Navratri fast.
- Maharashtra: Ram Janmotsav kirtans at noon, cradle ceremonies and panakam distribution.
- South India: Sita Rama Kalyanam, the celestial wedding, most famously at Bhadrachalam in Telangana.
- Eastern India: community bhajans and kirtans throughout the day.
How Can Busy Devotees Observe Ram Navami?
- Read one chapter of the Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas.
- Chant Ram naam for 11 minutes, even during a lunch break.
- Avoid anger and harsh speech for the day.
- Donate food or offer panakam and water to passers-by.
The essence of Ram Navami is living by Rama’s ideals — truth, duty, patience and compassion — not ritual perfection. Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram 🙏
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ram Navami in 2027?
Ram Navami 2027 falls on Thursday, 15 April, the Navami of the bright fortnight of Chaitra and the last day of Chaitra Navratri. The main puja is performed at Madhyahna, the believed moment of Rama’s birth, around 12:20 PM in New Delhi; the exact time varies by city.
Why is Ram Navami celebrated?
Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya in Ayodhya. The Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda chapter 18, places his birth on the Navami of Chaitra under the Punarvasu nakshatra. Rama is revered as Maryada Purushottam, the ideal of dharma.
Why is Ram Navami puja done at midday?
Ram Navami puja is done at Madhyahna, the midday period, because tradition holds that Lord Rama was born at noon. Temples mark the birth moment by rocking a cradle and ringing bells, and the festival is kept on the day when the Navami tithi prevails at midday.
What can you eat during the Ram Navami fast?
During the Ram Navami fast, devotees keeping a phalahar vrat eat fruits, milk, curd, dry fruits, sweet potato, sabudana and singhara flour dishes, and avoid wheat, rice, pulses, onion, garlic and ordinary salt. The fast is broken after the midday puja or at sunset.
Is fasting compulsory on Ram Navami?
No. Fasting on Ram Navami is a devotional choice, and sincere prayer, reading the Ramayana, chanting and charity are equally meaningful. Children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with diabetes or another medical condition should not keep a strict or waterless fast.
Which mantra is chanted on Ram Navami?
The mantra most widely chanted on Ram Navami is the Rama Taraka Mantra, Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, popularised by the Maharashtrian saint Samarth Ramdas. Devotees also chant Om Ramaya Namah, recite the Ram Raksha Stotra and the Hanuman Chalisa, and read the Ramayana.
What is Sita Rama Kalyanam?
Sita Rama Kalyanam is the ceremonial celebration of the wedding of Rama and Sita, held on Ram Navami in South India. The most famous is at the Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, where the celestial wedding draws large crowds of devotees.
What is panakam?
Panakam is a cooling drink of jaggery, water, black pepper and cardamom, sometimes with dry ginger, offered to Lord Rama as naivedya on Ram Navami and distributed to devotees, especially in South India and Maharashtra, where the festival falls in the heat of April.
