Hindus around India celebrate one of their important festivals Ram Navami today. This day is regarded as the birthday of Lord Ram.
Kashmiri Hindu devotees dance as they participate in a religious procession to mark 'Ram Navami' festival in Srinagar, Tuesday, April 8, 2014. Ram Navami is a celebration of the birthday of Lord Rama.
Kinnar greet Sadhus with flowers at Ram Navami Mahotsav in Faridabad on Tuesday, April 9.
Congress Candidate Vilas Muttemwar and BJP Candidate Nitin Gadkari at Ram Navami Shobha yatra in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Hindu devotees worship young girls as they sit together dressed as "Kumari," or living goddesses, during the Hindu festival of Ram Navami in Kolkata.
Devotees perform a 'Kumari pujan' on the occasion of Ram Navami at Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath Temple in Kolkata.
A Hindu devotee, only hand seen, puts holy water on the feet of a girl during a mass worship of "Kumari," or living goddesses at a temple.
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.
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
Major celebrations are found to occur in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) and Sitamarhi (Bihar) though it is celebrated by all Hindus around the world.
Hindu believers usually observe the day with chanting of mantras, fasting and reading passages from the Ramayana. The Ram Navami fast begins from sunrise and ends when it's sunset.
Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu's Dashavatar came into existence to destroy Ravana as per Hindu mythology.
Ram Navami or Shri Ram Navami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama, believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya of Ayodhya.