Ram Naumi, the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chet, is the birthday of Rama and the close of the spring Navratri. Temples celebrate the birth at noon, the Ramayana is read, and processions with tableaux pass through the bazaars of Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. For those who kept the nine-day fast, it ends today with the feeding of the kanjaks.
The story
A few miles west of Amritsar is Ram Tirath, held to be the ashram of the sage Valmiki, where Sita took refuge and gave birth to Lav and Kush, and where the Ramayana was composed. The cities of Lahore and Kasur are by tradition named for the two boys.
Rama's name runs through Punjabi speech and through the hymns of the Sikh Gurus, where Ram is a name for the one God.
How it is kept
- Janam at noonThe birth is celebrated in temples with arati.
- Shobha yatraProcessions with tableaux from the Ramayana.
- KanjakThe girls are fed and the fast is broken.
- Ramayan pathReadings through the day.
Why this date
Ram Naumi is the Navami of the bright fortnight of Chet, on the day it covers midday.
Ram Naumi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Punjabi festivals
7 AprilChet Navratriਚੇਤ ਦੇ ਨਰਾਤੇ
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiਹਨੂੰਮਾਨ ਜਯੰਤੀ
14 AprilVaisakhiਵਿਸਾਖੀ
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaਅਕਸ਼ੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਤੀਆ
23 MarchHoli and Hola Mohallaਹੋਲੀ · ਹੋਲਾ ਮਹੱਲਾ
14 JulyDevshayani Ekadashiਦੇਵਸ਼ਯਨੀ ਇਕਾਦਸ਼ੀ
Where to see Ram Naumi
In Punjab
- Ram Tirath, AmritsarPunjabThe Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, with its great tank.
- Durgiana Temple, AmritsarPunjabThe chief Hindu temple of the city.
- LudhianaPunjabOne of the largest Ram Naumi processions in the state.
Across India
- AyodhyaUttar PradeshThe birthplace, where sunlight is brought on to the image at noon.
- KurukshetraHaryanaThe field of the Gita, in the old Punjab.
- BhadrachalamTelanganaThe day is kept as the wedding of Rama and Sita.