Sita Navami 2027सीता नवमी

When is Sita Navami?

Observed on Shukla Navami, Vaishakha month. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Sita Navami means

Sita Navami, the ninth day of the bright half of Vaishakha — exactly a month after Ram Navami — celebrates the appearance of Sita, the daughter of the earth and the wife of Shri Rama. She is also called Janaki (daughter of Janaka), Vaidehi (princess of Videha) and Bhumija (born of the earth).

Sita is honoured as the embodiment of courage, purity, patience and dignity — the princess who chose the forest with her husband, who stood firm in Ravana's captivity, and whose story is at the heart of the Ramayana. Devotees fast until midday, worship Sita with Rama, and read her story.

In some regions, following other calendars, Janaki Jayanti is kept on Phalguna Krishna Ashtami.

The story of Sita Navami

King Janaka of Mithila, preparing a field for a sacrifice, was ploughing it himself when the plough struck a golden casket in the furrow. Inside lay a radiant baby girl. Janaka, who had no children, took her as a gift of the earth and named her Sita, "the furrow".

Sita grew up in Mithila and married Rama after he broke Shiva's bow at her swayamvara. She went with him into fourteen years of exile, endured captivity in Lanka without wavering, and is worshipped with Rama in every Ram temple. At the end of her life on earth, the Ramayana says, she returned to the earth from which she had come.

Sita Navami puja vidhi, step by step

How Sita Navami is kept.

What you need

• An image of Sita-Rama or the Ram Darbar
• Red chunari, sindoor, bangles and shringar items for Sita
• Flowers, tulsi, a ghee diya, incense
• Kheer, fruit and sweets

When to do the puja

In 2027 Sita Navami falls on Friday, 14 May. The puja is done at midday (madhyahna); check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Fast. Fast until midday, or keep a phalahar fast.
2. Midday puja. Worship Sita and Rama with flowers and tulsi; offer shringar to Sita.
3. Read. Read the story of Sita's birth and swayamvara from the Ramayana.
4. Aarti. Do the aarti and share prasad.

Offerings & food: Kheer, fruits, sweets, red flowers and shringar items for Sita

Mantras for Sita Navami

Sita Navami across India

Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham (Bihar), Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya; in some regions Janaki Jayanti is kept on Phalguna Krishna Ashtami

Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham (Bihar)

Held to be the place of Sita's birth; temples hold large fairs and celebrations.

Janakpur (Nepal)

The Janaki Mandir celebrates with special worship and pilgrimages.

Ayodhya

Sita's appearance is celebrated in the Kanak Bhawan and Ram temples.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Sita Navami

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi MandirAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently asked questions