India is filled with people who portray different cultures, and different practices and celebrate different festivals, all within the confines of a single place or city. This is because India is like a palette with people of many colours who live together. That being considered, all these people have their traditions and practices that they find important. When you’re here, you will get to see how well people are mixed in while having these little celebrations; and that the differences among them only bring them further close to each other.

The Vibrant Tapestry of Festivals at Ram Mandir

Hindus celebrate many events like harvests, celebrations to honour historic figures, to express devotion to deities and so much more. Honestly, if you’ve ever been to India you’ll know, every day is a celebration out here. Ayodhya on its own celebrates all the festivals with its special touch. For international visitors, it is especially exciting to be able to witness the celebration of festivals here, at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. It brings people closer and lets visitors take a closer look at the traditions and practices of Ayodhya.

Key Festivals of Ram Mandir

Ram Mandir is built at the Janmabhoomi or the birthplace of Lord Rama. Considering that all the festivals are celebrated in honour of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita as well as other Hindu deities. Major festivals like Ram Navami, Diwali, Mahashivratri are a joy to witness here. 

Ram Navami: The Birth Celebration Of Lord Ram

Ram Navami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram, which falls on the ninth day of the first month of the Hindu calendar –  ‘Chaitra’. According to the Gregorian Calendar, Ram Navami falls somewhere around March or April. To honour Lord Ram, devotees perform various Poojas along with fasting. There is Bhajan as well as the recitation of the Ramayana usually performed all over India on this day. 

History and Rituals of Ram Navami

Ram Navami holds great importance in Ayodhya as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. As described in the Ramayana, Lord Ram is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu who was born to King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya. Devotees of Lord Ram are present all over the world and hence celebration of Ram Navami is performed all over the world. Cultural events in Ayodhya during Ram Navami include a Rath Yatra which is a chariot paraded all through Ayodhya where idols of Lord Ram, and Goddess Sita are placed and decorated. 

Participating in the Ram Navami Celebration

Ram Navami rituals in Ayodhya include 

• Rath Yatra 
• performances of Ram Lila – wherein scenes from the Ramayana are performed on stage which is a great way of learning about the Ramayana as well as witnessing beautiful scenes from it
• Ganga Aarti – wherein an aarti is performed in honour of the Sarayu River.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights at Ram Mandir

No matter which part of the world you are from, everyone is aware of the most important festival celebrated by the Hindus – Diwali. Diwali or Deepavali is called the festival of lights because all the cities, as well as people’s homes, are decorated with beautiful lights and lamps or diyas. There is an exchange of gifts and sweets, relatives visit each other and it is just a lovely time. Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness. It is usually celebrated for 5 days somewhere around October or November, when family and friends come together.

Diwali’s Significance and Celebration in Ayodhya

Diwali is celebrated as the day of the return of Lord Ram along with Goddess and Lord Lakshman to Ayodhya and the victory of Lord Ram over King Ravana. Just like Ram Navami, Diwali too is celebrated with great joy in Ayodhya. The entire city is lit up with beautiful lamps and lights and people come together to celebrate their King, Lord Ram. 

Experiencing Diwali Festivities at Ram Mandir

The recently inaugurated Ram Mandir at the Ram Janmabhoomi is a very important pilgrimage site for Hindus. Especially during an important festival like Diwali, it is considered holy to be visiting the beautiful Ram Mandir. It is also a great time for International devotees and tourists to experience Hindu festivals while learning about the importance of them. Similar to Ram Navami, there are performances of the Ramayana – Ram Lila along with Rath Yatra and Ganga Aarti performed during this time. Tourists who get to visit Ayodhya and witness its beauty during this time of the year are considered lucky. 

Cultural Immersion and Participation for International Visitors

When you’re an international tourist visiting a new country, it’s best to immerse in the culture and traditions of the country rather than just watching from the sidelines. When one gets to participate in these, one gets to learn on a deeper level.

Engaging with Festivals Beyond Observance

Engaging with Festivals is a fun way of gaining knowledge while enjoying your trip to Ayodhya. Even if it’s just greeting someone back in their native language instead of nodding, or making the effort to learn the significance of certain rituals; every step counts. 

Cultural Workshops and Activities

Since the city of Ayodhya is all set to go big during the festival times, there is something planned for everyone. Meaning, that if you’re interested in watching all the traditions and activities closely, you will be included in them as closely as possible. However, if you’re interested in more than that, i.e. in learning and participating, there’s something for you too. You can participate and enrol in workshops that are tailored specially for tourists to learn the traditional dance, music, crafts and more. This way, when the festive events take place, one is not a stranger to it.

Understanding the Stories Behind the Festivals

Every event, every celebration, every festival has a meaning to it. Some traditions may have been modified throughout the generations but everything that was started centuries ago as a tradition had a deep meaning to it. It’s important to learn about these deep meanings as the extra knowledge enhances the complete festive experience. Spiritual significances for major festivals like Diwali, Ram Navami, Mahashivratri, etc are best explained by local people with experience or even the internet.

Etiquette and Customs during Festivals

While enjoying and immersing in festivals on a deeper level sounds fun and interesting, it is just as important to respect every ritual, tradition, and belief that goes into the celebration of these festivals. In most cases, it is best to not let your personal opinions about these get in the way of enjoying these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Dress Code and Behaviour

While there are no hard and fast rules about clothing and behaviour during the festive spirit, some things are best understood without setting up rules. Dressing should be modest and clothing like

• Backless clothes
• Sleeveless clothes
• Revealing clothes
• Shorts 

should be avoided. Similarly, one should behave in a manner that shows respect and maintains the spirituality of the surroundings. 

Participatory Do’s and Don’ts

Similar to the dress code, there are no hard and fast rules here. However, when you’re an international tourist, it’s best to respect the feelings of the locals. How do we do that? By following basic social rules like avoiding

• Smoking and drinking in public areas where festivals are celebrated
• Creating unnecessary chaos
• Misbehaviour of children 

In most spiritual gatherings, Hindus tend to take off their footwear as it is considered disrespectful to perform Poojas or other rituals with shoes on. One should act accordingly by observing the locals around them.

Practical Tips for Festival Visits

After discussing all the social and cultural norms about visiting Ayodhya during some of the most important times of the year for Hindus, we should now come down to the practical ones. Not just Ayodhya, but every place has its own ‘seasons’ when every hotel and every tourist place is packed with tourists. Certainly, the major festive season is the tourism season for Ayodhya. If you’re planning on visiting during this time, it’s best to have everything pre-planned and pre-booked to avoid travelling disasters.

Planning your Visit during Festival Times

The planning process includes

• Visa approval
• Packing for essentials 
• Booking for flights
• Booking accommodation
• Cab booking
• Itinerary

While packing for a trip during this time of the year, it’s best to pack clothing and footwear that is according to the theme. Eg – traditional wear, Modest clothes 

Booking for accommodation should be done months before your trip to be able to bag good deals. 

If you’re looking to save cost on flights, it’s best to book tickets at least 3 months prior. 

Best Times and Viewing Spots for Festivals

The best times to visit Ayodhya to be able to celebrate festivals are 

• Diwali – October – November
• Ram Navami – March – April
• Dussehra – October – November
• Mahashivratri – February – March

Some of the best viewing spots in Ayodhya during the festive season are 

• Ram Mandir
• Sarayu River
• Rath Yatra
• Kanak Bhavan

Accommodation and Travel Arrangements

Booking accommodation and travelling anywhere around the world is quite easy now because of the internet and easy accessibility. Plus, if you’re hiring a travel agency to handle all of that for you, it’s even more convenient as all those parts are taken care of by the travel agency itself. Now, all these are only beneficial if the trip is planned and booked well in advance, especially during the busy festive season. In other cases, you can use online websites and booking apps, most of which are also helpful while booking for travel arrangements.

Food and Culinary Experiences During Festivals 

Festivals are a great time to enjoy authentic traditional food items. For people who are looking to enhance their travel experience while experiencing Hindu festivals, it’s best to enjoy traditional food instead of relying on food that is available everywhere. Most sweet shops sell authentic sweets like Laddoos, Halwa, Peda, Malpua, Rabdi, etc during this time and they are also served as Prasadam after rituals. Other authentic food items include Poori Sabzi, Litti Chokha, Thandai, etc.

Savoring Festival Delicacies

Most delicacies served during the festive days usually have a connection to the festival on a deeper level. Pedas and Laddoos are usually served as Prasadam during Poojas, aartis, etc. Thandai is often served during the celebration of the festival Holi. Other sweets like Malpua, Rabdi, and Kheer are generally available throughout the year.

Dietary Tips and Considerations

While the food served in Ayodhya during the celebration of festivals is usually vegetarian, a lot of milk and milk products like ghee and butter are used in the preparation of the food. Hence, it is something to consider for tourists who are lactose intolerant or vegans. For vegetarians, it is pretty convenient as most places serve vegetarian food only while others have plenty of vegetarian options. For non-vegetarians, most restaurants in Ayodhya serve non-vegetarian delicacies. However, the traditional meals may not have as many non-vegetarian items, if there are any at all. 

Conclusion: Embracing the Festive Spirit of Ram Mandir

This blog attempts to act as an international guide to Ram Mandir Festivals if you are planning on visiting. Everything that needs to be considered while you’re planning your trip including what to wear and where to stay along with how everything needs to be managed has been put together concisely so if you’re thorough with your knowledge and planning, you are all set on your spiritual journey as an international tourist to Ram Mandir.