The holy and ethnic city of Ayodhya on the banks of River Saryu is also very popular for its festivals. Tourists visiting the city at the time of festivals can treat their eyes with the awesome and spectacular events which marks the specialty and uniqueness of Indian culture and festivals. People in the city speak Hindi, Urdu, Awadh and English. People of all disciplines live happily in this holy city.Popular festivals in the city are Diwali, Ram Navami, Shivratri, Dussehra, Ramzan, Mahavir Jayanthi, Eid and many more. Ram Navami is a very popular Hindu festival that is celebrated at a grand scale in the Holy city. Rama Navami is celebrated on the birth of Lord Rama, since he was born in Ayodhya this festival is marked as a very important festival in the city. Lord Rama was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya. Thousands of devotees around the world and many parts of India visit Ayodhya to celebrate the occasion of Rama's birth in the town. Rama Navami falls on Chaitra Navami which is the ninth day of Chaitra month. Celebrations for Rama Navami takes place for nearly 9 days.
The celebration also includes the wedding ceremony of Lord Rama and Sita. The festival is observed with poojas, fasting and feasting on Ram Navami. The first nine days of Chaitra month is observed as Vasanta Navaratri. Upon celebrating Rama Navami in all these nine days it is called as Shri Rama Navaratra. Celebration in all these nine days are observed with bhajans on Lord Rama, temple visits, poojas, fruits and flower offering, aarti and distribution of Prasad.
The devotees place highly decorated baby Rama in a flower-decorated cradle and enjoy the occasion by singing and dancing. Community meals on Rama Navami are also popular in Ayodhya. As per Ramayana, Lord Rama was born in noon on the occasion of Rama Navami people gather with their family at temples and at homes in the morning, fasting and singing bhajans on Lord Rama. By noon people start to feast with their family and distribute sweets to their friends and relatives to spread the joy of the occasion. On Rama Navami bathing in River Saryu is considered divine; thousands of devotees get their holy dip in River Saryu.
Rathayatras are also popular in Ayodhya on Rama Navami. The statues of Lord Rama along with Sita and his brother Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman are highly decorated and placed in chariot and taken in street surrounded by thousands of devotees singing and dancing is very popular in Ayodhya. The occasion of Rama Navami is very popular in Ramkot as many devotees visit the temple especially on Rama Navami to celebrate the occasion. The state government along with the Ayodhya Police takes strict control of the city, especially Ramkot, to have a safe and happy Rama Navami celebration in the city.
Maha Shivratri or Great Night of Lord Shiva is another popular Hindu religious festival in Ayodhya which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The festival falls on 13th night of Krishna Paksha. The day is observed by fasting, visiting Shiva Lingam, devotees doesn’t sleep at night and they spend the nights singing bhajans on Lord Shiva and humming “Om Namah Shivaya”. The day marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva with Parvati. Shivaratri festivals are celebrated in a splendid manner at the Nageshwarnath temple of Ayodhya which is attended by thousands of devotees.
Diwali is yet another popular festival in Ayodhya which is celebrated for the victory of Lord Rama over Demon King Ravana and his return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Diwali is celebrated at a grand scale in the city, new bright dresses are worn by the people distributing sweets, exchanging gifts, firing crackers and feasting. Many fairs also organized in many parts of Ayodhya at the time of festival.
