सुन्दरे सुन्दरो रामः सुन्दरे सुन्दरी कथासुन्दरे सुन्दरी सीता सुन्दरे सुन्दरं वनम् ।सुन्दरे सुन्दरं काव्यं सुन्दरे सुन्दरः कपिःसुन्दरे सुन्दरं मन्त्रं सुन्दरे किं न सुन्दरम् ॥

सुन्दरे सुन्दरो रामः सुन्दरे सुन्दरी कथा

सुन्दरे सुन्दरी सीता सुन्दरे सुन्दरं वनम् ।

सुन्दरे सुन्दरं काव्यं सुन्दरे सुन्दरः कपिः

सुन्दरे सुन्दरं मन्त्रं सुन्दरे किं न सुन्दरम् ॥

[Describing Sundara Kanda in Sri Valmiki Ramayana, one of the poetic marvels in the literature]

Meaning: Rama is handsome and Sita is gorgeous. The Ashoka forest in which Sita was there is beautiful. The Ramayana kavyam which describes these events is beautiful. Hanuman who attained self-realization is beautiful. The sacred hymns are beautiful. In this beautiful Sundara Kanda, which is the fifth chapter of Ramayana kavyam, what is not beautiful?

At some parts of India, devotees celebrate the festival for nine days starting from Ugadi and ending on Rama Navami with exquisite classical music concerts and literature events. Few places in North India, host fairs associated with the festival, culminating in eye-catching fireworks. Even fasting is another prominent Vrata in North India.

Sacred places associated with Rama, like Ayodhya, Ujjain, Rameshwaram and Bhadrachalam, draw thousands of devotees on this prosperous day.

At Ayodhya, a huge two-day fair is held followed by Ratha-yatra. A ceremonial wedding called Kalyanotsavam between 10 AM and 12:30 PM will be performed by temple priests at Bhadrachalam, on the banks of the river Godavari in Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh. The sacred Talambralu will be showered on the deities exactly at 12 noon.

This occasion is being broadcasted by All India Radio and telecasted through Doordarshan. The next day is the Sri Rama Pattabhishekam. 

The significance of Lord Sri Rama:  

Lord Rama is an epitome of the perfect person. Through the enduring epic Ramayana, Lord Rama exemplified on how to encompass with Dharma.

Though Ravana was a great scholar, powerful, and ingenious, his audacity, self-pride, covetousness led him to his own demise. Whereas Lord Rama is content with respect, altruism, modesty, and a higher sense of duty.  Hence, people worship Rama not because of the success in his life, but for the qualities he maintained under most difficult situations.

Throughout his life, he teaches the world to choose Dharma over Artha, to choose Moksha over the Kama. As a son, he directs us to obey father’s order. As a brother, he cultivates the love and affection.

This sloka, although uttered by Asura Maricha to Ravana in Aranya Kanda when Ravana approaches Maricha to become the golden deer to distract Rama to abduct Sita, summarizes the qualities of Rama in one Sloka.

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मस्साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः।  

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव।। 3.37.13 ।।  

 [Sloka 13 from 37th Sarga in Aranya Kanda from Sri Valmiki Ramayanam]  

   Meaning: Rama is Dharma incarnate. He is pious. His strength is truth. He is king of all the worlds like Indra to the gods