Ram Navami 2027
A noon birthday for Rama in the city of his birth.
Countdown to Ram Navami 2027
Dates
When is Ram Navami?
Ram Navami 2027 falls on Thursday, 15 April 2027.
Falls on Thursday 15 Apr, the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri.
Date checked against publicholidays.in
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 March 2026Thu | 1 day | Past |
| 2027 | 15 April 2027Thu | 1 day | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Spirit & Ancestry
- Tradition
- Hindu
- Where
- Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
- Crowd
- Celebrated across India; large crowds in Ayodhya
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
At midday in Ayodhya the temple bells ring together to mark the moment Rama is believed to have been born. Pilgrims who have bathed in the Saryu since dawn press forward for darshan.
Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra, at the close of the spring Navratri. It marks the birth of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and hero of the Ramayana, at noon. Devotees fast, read or listen to the Ramayana and the Ramcharitmanas, and celebrate the birth at midday.
In Ayodhya pilgrims bathe in the Saryu river and visit the city's many temples, including the Ram Janmabhoomi temple consecrated in 2024. Processions carry images of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman through the streets, and in parts of south India the day is celebrated as the wedding of Rama and Sita.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Ram Navami
Traditions
What actually happens
- Madhyahna puja — the noon worship at the hour of Rama's birth.
- Ramayana recitation — readings of Valmiki's Ramayana or Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas.
- Shobha yatra — processions with chariots carrying images of Rama and his family.
- Sita Rama Kalyanam — the celebration of Rama and Sita's wedding, notably at Bhadrachalam in Telangana.
Food
The table, widened
- Panakam — a cooling jaggery drink with pepper and cardamom, served in south India.
- Kosambari salad, buttermilk and fasting dishes such as fruit and sabudana in the north.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Bhajans to Rama and continuous chanting of his name are heard in temples through the day. In Ayodhya, recitation of the Ramcharitmanas often continues for days before the festival.
Religion
Why this date
Rama is revered as the seventh incarnation of Vishnu and as the ideal of righteous conduct, dharma. His birthday celebrates those values, and many people use the day for fasting, charity and reflection on the Ramayana.
History
How it survived
Rama's story is told in Valmiki's Ramayana and retold in many languages, most influentially in Tulsidas's sixteenth-century Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi. Since 2024, the new Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya has drawn large numbers of pilgrims, and its design includes a mechanism to direct sunlight onto the deity's forehead at noon on Ram Navami.
History
How it got here
Rama's story is told in Valmiki's Ramayana and retold in many languages, most influentially in Tulsidas's sixteenth-century Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi. Since 2024, the new Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya has drawn large numbers of pilgrims, and its design includes a mechanism to direct sunlight onto the deity's forehead at noon on Ram Navami.
c. 500 BCE–100 CE
Valmiki Ramayana
The Sanskrit epic of Rama's life takes shape.
1574
Ramcharitmanas
Tulsidas begins his Awadhi retelling, which becomes a pillar of north Indian devotion.
2024
New temple
The Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya is consecrated in January.
Today
Surya Tilak
Sunlight is directed onto the image's forehead at noon on Ram Navami.
Travel & practical
Visiting Ayodhya for Ram Navami
Getting there
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport serves Ayodhya, and the city has rail links to Lucknow, Varanasi and Delhi.
When to arrive
Arrive a day or two early; temple darshan queues are longest around noon on the day.
Practical notes
Phones and bags are restricted inside the main temple. Late March and April can already be hot, so carry water.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Ram Navami: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Ram Navami.
When is Ram Navami in 2026 and 2027?
Ram Navami fell on Thursday 26 March 2026 and falls on Thursday 15 April 2027.
Why is Ram Navami celebrated at noon?
Tradition holds that Rama was born at midday, so the main puja is timed to that hour.
How is it linked to Navratri?
Ram Navami is the ninth and final day of Chaitra Navratri, the spring Navratri.
Is Ram Navami a public holiday?
Yes, it is a gazetted holiday for central government offices and a holiday in most states.
Also in April 2027
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