Sri Rama Rajyotsavam is the day of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam during when Lord Sri Ram was crowned. According to Ramayana, Lord Sri Ram was crowned on Chaitra Shukla Panchami, the fifth day in bright half of Chaitra month. In 2010, Sri Rama Rajyotsavam or Sri Rama Pattabhisheka dinotsavam date is March 20. It is observed as one of the rituals in Sri Rama Navami utsav.
Lord Sri Ram and Goddess Sita are worshipped during Sri Rama Pattabhisheka utsavam. Sri Rama Navami festival is celebrated just 4 days after this Utsav.
Chaitra Durgashtami is observed on eighth day or Astami day during Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri in Chaitra month. Chaitra Durgashtami is also celebrated as Bhavani Ashtami or Bhavani Jayanthi and Ashokastami in various places in India. Chaitra Durgashtami 2010 date is March 23. In 2010, it is very auspicious as it comes on Tuesday which is favorite day to Goddess Durga or Shakti. Other major Durgashtami observed is – Ashwin Navratri Durgashtami Puja.
There are no particular rituals associated with Chaitra Durgashtami but some devotees observe fasting and worship the Goddess with various pujas. Some perform three-day Puja during Saptami, Ashtami and Navami days in Chaitra Navratri.
Vasant Navratri, also known as Chaitra Navratri, is one of the two biggest celebrations in Vindhyachal Vanavasini Devi Shaktipeeth temple near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. In 2010, it is even more significant and auspicious as it falls during Kumbh Mela period. Vindhyachal Vanavasini temple is located on the banks of the holy river Ganga. In 2010, Vasant Navratri begins on March 16 and ends on March 24. Puja begins from midnight with Kalash Sthapana.
Other major festivals celebrated in Vindhyavasini temple are – Ashwin Navratri (October) and Kajali Utsav in Jyestha month (June-July).
Image Source – Official website of Vindhyachal Vanavasini Devi Temple near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Vasant Navratri, also known as Chaitra Navratri, will be celebrated with much pomp in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. CCTV cameras and metal detectors will be seen this year at temples for this year Navratri celebrations in Kanpur. Navratri dates are – March 16 to March 14, 2010.
The Times of India published:
With the Navratri starting from Tuesday, it is expected that a huge crowd would descend on the city temples, leading to security concerns. To avoid any untoward incident, elaborate security arrangements have been made at all prominent city temples, including Tapeshwari Temple on Birhana Road, Kali Mathiya in Shastri Nagar, Vaibhav Laxmi Temple in Pheelkhana, Chinnmastika in Shivala and Baradevi Temple.
To start with, metal detectors have been fitted at the entrance of Tapeshwari Temple on Birhana Road. To control the rush of devotees during the next nine days, a barricade has been put up on the street leading to the temple. In addition, a special camp would also be put up in the vicinity of the temple to provide information of lost and found children during the fair.
Similarly, at Kali Mathiya Temple, CCTV cameras have been installed to keep an eye on the crowd and a huge entrance gate would be erected to facilitate better movement of the devotees visiting the temple. Besides, the volunteers, who would be present for crowd control at Vaibhav Laxmi Temple and Chinnmastika Temple, have been asked to submit their identity proofs beforehand.
Sri Ram Navratri or Sri Rama Navami Navaratri celebrations are held during bright half of Chaitra month (March – April). Ram Navratri is also known as Vasant Navratri or Chaitra Navratri. In 2010, Ram Navaratri puja begins March 16 and ends on March 24, 2010, with Sri Ram Navami. Ram Navami 2010 date is March 24th. Rama Navami is the festival to celebrate Sri Rama Jayanti.
Ram Navaratri starts on Chaitra Shukla Padyami and ends on Chaitra Shukla Navami day. On Chaitra Shukla Dasami, Sri Rama Pattabhishekam is held.
In Bhadrachalam Sri Sita Ramachadraswamy Temple, Ayodhya Sri Ram Mandir, and Rameshwaram temple, Sri Rama Navami Puja is observed with utmost fervor. Sri Sitarama Kalyanam is the major event during Ram Navami festival in Bhadrachalam temple.
