Sita Navami 29th April 2023: Significance | Rituals | Tithi

Sita Navami is also popularly regarded as Sita Jayanti or Janaki Navami and it marks the birth anniversary of Goddess Sita. Women are known to hold fasts on this day for the well-being of their husbands. Sita was also referred to as Janaki since she is believed to be the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Mithila. Sita Navami is celebrated during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month. According to the Bengali calendar, the date for Sita Navami is exactly one month before the Ram Navami.

The Legend of The Birth Of Goddess Sita:

There is no concrete story behind this. However, this does not stop people from speculating. Mata Sita was supposedly born in the Sitamarhi District of Bihar. There is another story that states that she was born in Nepal. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, it is stated that Goddess Sita was found in the lap of Earth, causing her to gain the title of the daughter of Bhumi Devi. We have already stated the version where Goddess Sita is considered to be the adopted daughter of King Janaka but it is also believed that she was the King’s biological daughter and not adopted. No matter which version you believe in, Sita Navami is celebrated across the country with pomp and dedication.

Significance:

Goddess Sita is known for her virtues of purity, courage, sacrifice, dedication, and patience. Praying to her on this day and holding a fast is meant to provide longevity for the lives of their husbands. Blessings from Mother Sita are supposed to allow one to have a happy and blissful married life. Sita Navami is also known to bring the blessing of motherhood to many women. Mother Earth is also often worshipped as she is regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Sita. It is believed that this will shower blessings of prosperity, wealth, and abundance. When the rituals of Sita Navami are followed, Goddess Sita is said to bestow the qualities of modesty, sacrifice, and many other virtues onto her devotees. People also worship Lord Rama to get his blessings on the same day. This festival is said to be ideal for women who are just about to get married as the blessings would allow them to become the perfect wife to their husbands.

Rituals:

There are certain rituals that must be followed for the success of the puja on Sita Navami. First, one has to wake up early in the morning before sunrise and then take a bath while offering worship to the Holy Rivers. The following Mantra should be chanted -

“Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru” Fasting commences at sunrise on the day of the Sita Navami and one can only drink water throughout the day. In some cases, if it is too difficult one is allowed to eat simple items like milk, dried fruits, and nuts. Devotees tend to worship Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman together on this day. You can visit a nearby temple to make your offerings or it can be done at home too. The offerings include sandalwood, flowers, and dhoop. Many devotees also offer fruits, sesame seeds, barley, and rice. Satvik food is also prepared and offered to the deities before being distributed to the family members. Temples across the country perform Maha Aarti, Maha Abhishekam, and Sringaar Darshan. Before breaking the fast, it is essential to listen to the Sita Navami Vrat Katha. Several places are also known to have bhajans, kirtans, and the recitals of Ramayan.

Tithi:

This year, Sita Navami will be celebrated on April 29, 2023. The tithi starts at 4:01 PM on the 28th and ends at 6:22 PM on the 29th. Women will be praying to Mother Sita who spent her life dedicated to Lord Rama.