RAM NAVAMI

The birthday of the god Rama, hero of the Ramayana epic, ^7th incarnation of Vishnu and first god to have a human form, is celebrated on the ^9th day after the new moon of April. Representations of the Ramayana take place everywhere in the Vishnu temples. The eight days before, theatrical adaptations of the Ramayana called the Ram Lila are organized. During this period, many Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet. The festival is particularly impressive in the ISKCON temples, like those of Trivandrum and Thrissur.