Sri Rama Navami Recipes 2023

According to Hinduism, Bhagwan Ram is considered as the 7^th avatar of Lord Vishnu, the supreme being. Thus, Sri Rama Navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals in India which celebrates the birthday of Bhagwan Ram. This festival is usually observed by people by keeping fasts or vrats. Thus, my collection of 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes will help you with some delicious treats for this day.  

Sri Rama Navami is also a significant festival that is a part of the Chaitra Navratri festivities in the spring season. So, this day dedicated to Bhagwan Shri Ram primarily takes place in March or April months, according to the Gregorian Calendar. In 2023, this falls on March 30.

Significance of Ram Navami

Diwali celebrates Lord Ram’s victorious return to Ayodhya. This was along with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman after killing demon king Ravana in Lanka.

This day happens to end the grand festival of Sharada Navratri, of which even Dussehra festival is a part of. Dussehra is the day when Lord Ram had executed the 10-headed demon king Ravana. Thus, signifying the victory of good and truth over evil.

Just like this, the significance of Shri Ram Navami also is related to a similar reason. The day marks the celebration of victory of good over evil. With ‘dharma’ or ‘righteousness or morality’ being established to finish ‘adharma’ or ‘unrighteousness or immorality.’

One popular tradition on Sri Rama Navami is to offer ‘jal (water)’ to Surya, the sun God, at the break of the dawn. This is considered as auspicious because it is believed that Bhagwan Ram’s ancestors were the descendants of Surya.  

Many typical dishes are consumed on this day, as a part of the fasting ritual observed by many people. These classic dishes may have variations across the Indian subcontinent.

For instance, some North Indian halwas and kheers may become kesaris and payasams in South India, etc. Here, I have shared a list of popular, tasty and easy Ram Navami Festival Recipes.   

Bhagwan Ram: The Perfect Man

Lord Ram has always been looked up to as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ or the ‘perfect man.’ Thus, Sri Rama Navami becomes the ideal day to know about the attributes, a man should possess to be impeccable. Just like Bhagwan Ram. Here’s what they are:

• Dutiful: Lord Ram sacrificed everything, just to keep the promise given to his father. He was extremely dedicated and obedient in keeping his words.
• Responsible and loving: Lord Ram was always a responsible brother. Even being elder to Lakshman, he treated his brother as his equal. He gave him love, and was never envious or jealous of his brother’s achievements.
• Supportive: Lord Ram respected Sita’s choice to join him on his exile and gave her equal decision-making power and authority. Also, during the exile, Lord Ram took great care of her.
• Knowledgeable and noble: Lord Ram had exceptional administration skills, was clever and was a principled king. He was also well-versed with the Vedas, scriptures and warfare skills and techniques.

Ram Navami Celebrations

Vrats, remembering Bhagwan Ram, reciting bhajans and his ‘katha’ (stories) from the Hindu epic Ramayana are features of this festival. Ram Navami is also a good day for involving in some charity work.

Since the last 3 years had been tough and locked down due to the Covid pandemic, online charities like the PM Cares Fund were quite active, especially during the festival.

You can even do so today or return back to the normal ways of charity, which involves physically present at a trusted NGO or similar organization and donate whatever or how much ever you can.

Doing charity is never dependent on how much money you gave. It is the noble act and the conscious of willing to do something for the needy, no matter how small or big, that always matters.  

Charity can also be done in the form of taking part as a ‘sevak’ in ‘langars’ at gurudwaras or any other place of worship, where community meals are organized on this day.

Another way of celebrating the day is to read other spiritual books like Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas or even watching the serial Ramayana on television.

The city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, North India celebrates Ram Navami with much grandeur and fanfare. Chariot processions of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman called ‘rathayatras’ take place at several locations within the city.

A lot of Ram bhakts or devotees also consider taking a dip in the Sarayu River and then visiting a Ram temple as sacred.

Sri Rama Navami Recipes

Since no Indian festival is ever complete without mentioning and also preparing special food that range from one course to the other, the same is applicable for the festival of Shri Ram Navami as well.

Here, I have shared a signature collection of 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes that are usually made during this day. The list includes dishes from North Indian cuisine as well as South Indian cuisine.

In South India, panakam, kosambaris, neer mor and many varieties of sundals and payasams are popularly made during this festival, as an offering to the deities.

Sundal variations like Sweet Corn Sundal, Rajma Sundal, Green Peas Sundal and Chana Dal Sundal are also common during Ganesh Chaturthi or Navratri festivals.

North Indians usually break their Chaitra Navratri Fasts during Ashtami or Navami, with a special combination of kala chana, Poori and Suji Ka Halwa after the rituals of ‘kanjak pooja.’

However, some people continue the fasts during Rama Navami or many devotees of Lord Ram keep fast specially for Rama Navami.

It is a very holy day and it is believed that keeping fast on Rama Navami and remembering Bhagwan Ram with total devotion can wipe out many of your negative karma.

The fasting food prepared does not use onion, garlic, rice, wheat flour, turmeric, etc. I have shared a detailed post on Navratri Fasting Rules which covers most of the important details about food and ingredients guidelines followed during fasting this time.

Important inclusions in the list of Ram Navami Festival Recipes especially meant for fasting are also Curd (dahi or Indian yogurt) and some sweets, all of which can be prepared at home without any fuss.

Also, other than whatever is mentioned here in this 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes list, you can refer to this category of Ladoo Recipes and Halwa Recipes for more varieties.

Please refrain from adding garlic or onion from any of the recipes listed below.

Popular Recipes

Sweets Recipes

Ram Navami Fasting Recipes

This collection of Sri Rama Navami recipes from the archives, originally published in April 2017 has been updated and republished on February 2023.