Rama Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form in the land of Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of Lord Vishnu. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others, and one in whom the sages rejoice.
Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra (March/April) and coincides with Vasant Navratri or Chait Durga Puja. Therefore in some regions, the festival is spread over nine days. This day, marking the birthday of Lord Rama, is also observed as the marriage day of Rama and Sita and thus also referred to as Kalyanotsavam.
For this festival we prepare Panakam(Telugu)/Panaka(Hindi) sweet drink prepared with jaggery and flavored with dry ginger powder, cardamom and black pepper. We also prepare Vada Pappu (yellow moong dal) as naivedyam or prasadam to Lord Sri Rama.
Panakam/Panaka Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tbsp grated jaggery
1 cup water
1/4 tbsp dry ginger powder
1 or 2 crushed cardamom
1/4 tbsp black pepper powder
Preparation:
1. Mix jaggery in water and let it dissolve completely. If required filter mixed water.
2. Add black pepper powder, crushed cardamom, ginger powder and mix well.
Vada pappu is split yellow moong dal (2 tbsp) (pesara pappu) soaked in water for half an hour and strained. Mix 1/2 tbsp jaggery with soaked moong dal.
2 tbsp grated jaggery
1 cup water
1/4 tbsp dry ginger powder
1 or 2 crushed cardamom
1/4 tbsp black pepper powder
Preparation:
1. Mix jaggery in water and let it dissolve completely. If required filter mixed water.
2. Add black pepper powder, crushed cardamom, ginger powder and mix well.
Vada pappu is split yellow moong dal (2 tbsp) (pesara pappu) soaked in water for half an hour and strained. Mix 1/2 tbsp jaggery with soaked moong dal.
