Sri Rama Navami is one of the most important festivals of the Hindus falls on March 28 However  the entire celebrations connected with this began in various temples in Mumbai   called ‘Vasantha Navaratri’. Rama Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form in the land of Ayodhya. The Ram Navami festival falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami.

It is also the day when Sri Rama married  Sita  and all the temples conduct Sita Rama Kalyana Mahotsav in vedic way on this day.

Every region in India has their own specific way of celebrating the festival. In north-eastern India the celebrations include Rath-yatras (chariot processions) while in southern India Kalyanotsavam (marriage celebration) with small deities of Rama and Sita in their homes and later these deities are taken to a procession on the streets.

In Ayodhya, a huge fair is organised for two days. Devotees from all places make it to Ayodhya for the high-key celebrations that take place here. They visit the Rama temple after taking a dip at the Sarayu river.

Besides temples , all the Hindu houses also celebrate  the Ramnavami day with  utmost devotion. Many observe fast and elders  decorate idols or images of the lord with flowers. Reading of Ramayana ‘s Sundara Kandam “during these period is considered very auspicious. A grand feast is held in every house with varieties of dishes including Pal Payasam (Kheer made out of Milk, Sugar and rice) which is a must.

One 86 year old Sion resident Mr. K.S.Venkateswaran , said he has been reciting ‘Sundara Kandam’ of Ramayana on all the nine days during Ram navami for the last seven decades. Coincidently his birthday also falls on the same day on Ramnavami day as his birth star  is the same as Lord Rama’s birth star. A retired  bank executive  , he started reciting this  since he was 15 year old when he was  in School in Kerala.

A prominent 50 year old GSB managed Shree Ram Mandir at Wadala, the festival is celebrated on all the 9 days ,  with  the chanting of “Shri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram”, by devotees round the clock for the entire stretch of 9 days. Special poojas are also  performed on all the days .On the Ram Navami day thousands of ,devotees pull the Brahma-Ratha (chariot) of  the idol Sri Rama with his consort  Sita and go around the streets in procession.

A Maharashtrian managed Sri Marubai  Gavdevi temple at Matunga  conducts this as Chaitra Navaratri  till April 4 with bhajans  by various mandalis from Matunga, Dadar, Wadala ,Vile Parle and Chembur.

Nine decade old Sri Asthika Samaj which is also called Sri Ram Mandir  in   Matunga, the Ramnavami celebrations started with cultural programmes and the nine day Garbhotsavam of Lord Sri Rama begins on March 20.  The idols of Sri Rama with his consorts  are kept in a  Swarna mandapam. Various religious and vedic functions are being held during the period including Kalasa Sthapanam, Purusha Sooktha  Japam , Rama Gayathri Homam ,  Nakshatra Shanti homams, Purusha sooktha Abhishekam  and Kalasabhishekams which is followed by    Sita Kalyana Uthsavam

.Another temple at Matunga  Sri Bhajana Samaj will begin the nine day celebration from March 28 and will conclude after nine days. This has been kept for the convenient of the devotees.

Sri Sankara Mattham Matunga celebrated  the  Ram Navami festival as Vasanta Navratri and during this period various  special havans were held   along with Vedic chanting of Vedic mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers to the Lord  then bathing the lord with milk and holy waters.