Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and a just-ruler whose reign is a symbol of peace and prosperity. It is also significant as it is celebrated in the beginning of summer when the Sun is moving towards the Northern Hemisphere and Rama is supposed to belong to the Sun dynasty. The birth and story of Lord Rama is chronicled by Sage Valmiki in the epic Ramayana, meaning Rama’s journey.
Lord Rama is believed to be born on the ninth day of the bright fortnight (Sukla Paksha) in the month of Chaita, the first month of the Hindu Calendar. As He was born mid-day, people usually fast till mid-day, in anticipation of the Lord’s birth and then break the fast with the offerings to God. In South India, we usually make panagam (water sweetened with jaggery and spices), neer mor (watered down butter milk) and kosumbari (pre-soaked moong dhal flavored with green chillies and ginger) as offerings on Rama Navami.
The virtues of Lord Rama and why His worship is important is beautifully explained here.
Although there is no single true Hindu calendar, mostly, Hindu new year falls around late March to early April. Different regions of India, celebrate the new year on different dates. Southern states of Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra celebrate Ugadi / Gudi Padwa on the same day (typically around late-March and early-April). Other states of India - Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu celebrate their new year in mid-April.
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Last Friday was Karadayar Nombu. Thanks to Bollywood, its North-Indian cousin, Karwa Chauth is much more popular. Karadayar Nombu typically falls at the cusp of tamil month of Maasi and Panguni and can fall at any time during the day - be it the dead of the night or right during the middle of the day. Thankfully, this year the Gods were smiling and it was right in the morning.
For me, the best part of the Nombu is the prasadam. Sweet (vella) adai is made as the offering for this nombu, and I wonder, why we don’t make this on other days! To compliment the sweet adai, a savory (Kaara) adai is also usually prepared, and as I had family over for dinner I made pidi kozhukattai with Rosematta rice as well.
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I intend to write a note on every important festival that is celebrated through the year by Hindus and the various cultural and gastronomic signifacance of the same. Last year when I started the blog, I was thinking of doing something along these lines but a conversation with my MIL helped me crystalize the whole idea.
Mahashivaratri, literally means “Shiva’s grand night”, is an important festival for Saivites. The day is usually spent in meditation and prayers, while many stay awake the whole night in reverence to Lord Shiva. Abhisekam is performed to the Shivalingam with milk, honey and water, and special offerings are made to the Lord in Bilva leaves, various fruits and the linga is adorned with flowers. Devotees usually recite Lingashtagam, Shiva Panchakshara stotram set in praise of Lord Shiva.
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I intend to write a note on every important festival that is celebrated through the year by Hindus and the various cultural and gastronomic signifacance of the same. Last year when I started the blog, I was thinking of doing something along these lines but a conversation with my MIL helped me crystalize the whole idea. Here goes the first one in the series.
Pongal or Sankranthi is a harvest festival celebrated mid-winter, essentially to thank Mother Nature for the bountiful of the previous year and expressing hope and praying for the next year to be just as plentiful. It is celebrated in differnt avatars in the various parts of India.
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When I got married, and moved to the US as a new bride, my mom insisted that no matter where I am, there a few pandikai (festivals in tamil) that I should never miss. She staunchly believed that by celebrating these festivals, we carry forward our tradition and culture. Living in a faraway land, I guess that is the best way to preserve your identity and also teach / pass it on to the next generation. Even though, I don’t go the whole nine yards, I try to stick to the tradition as much as possible. To think that a few years ago, if someone said that I would be following all these traditions, I would have scoffed at them. But now, I never fail to celebrate Pongal, Karadaiyar Nombu, Gokulastami, Vinayagar Chathurthi etc. I guess age & experience can really change one 
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