Rama

राम

Prince of Ayodhya, seventh avatar of Vishnu and ideal of right conduct

Rama (राम), also called Ramachandra or Shri Ram, is the prince of Ayodhya whom devotees honour as the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Born the eldest son of King Dasharatha, he is known as Maryada Purushottama, the ideal man who keeps the limits of right conduct. His story is told in the Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana, in Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas and in many other tellings, including Jain, Buddhist and Southeast Asian ones.

Devotees turn to Rama for dharma, duty, truthfulness and fidelity. Many Hindus keep his birthday on Rama Navami and his victory over Ravana at Dussehra. In Ramanandi devotion he is the supreme deity, while Shaiva, Shakta and Smarta traditions honour him in their own ways. He is revered in Nepal, Southeast Asia, Indo-Caribbean communities and across the Hindu diaspora.

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The story behind the line on the shirts

“A promise is a promise.”

In the Ramayana, King Dasharatha had once promised Queen Kaikeyi two wishes. She asked for her son Bharata to be crowned and for Rama to spend fourteen years in the forest. Rama went without complaint so his father's word would stand. As Tulsidas sings, in Rama's family you may give up your life, but never your word.

How to recognise Rama

Deep blue skinHis skin is dark blue like a rain cloud, linking him to Vishnu and to the infinite sky and ocean; the epithet Shyamanga means dark-complexioned.
Golden crownA tall, jewelled golden crown (mukuta) marks him as a prince and king.
Kodanda bowHis bow Kodanda, whose name means 'the one who holds the bow', is his identifying attribute; in the classic Kodanda Rama pose he holds it in his left hand while his right is raised in blessing.
Quiver of arrowsArrows rest in a quiver, shown on the right shoulder in Khajuraho sculpture, recalling the archery that runs through his story.
Yellow dhotiHe wears a yellow dhoti, hence the epithet Pitavasa, 'the wearer of yellow', with layered necklaces, a flower garland, armbands and bracelets.
Calm, graceful stanceHe often stands in the hip-shifted tribhanga pose, composed, noble and gentle, as in a Chola bronze and at Khajuraho; a tilak mark on the forehead is common in devotional images.
Sita, Lakshmana and HanumanIn the Rama Darbar group Sita usually stands at his left, his brother Lakshmana beside him with a bow of his own, and devoted Hanuman kneels before him.

Names and titles

Maryada PurushottamaThe ideal man, who upholds the limits of right conduct
Kodanda RamaRama, the one who holds the bow Kodanda
Shyamanga, the Dark-HuedA name for his dark, blue-toned complexion
Pitavasa, the One in YellowA name meaning the wearer of yellow clothes
Keeper of His Father's WordHe accepted fourteen years of forest exile to honour his father's promise

Feast days

Dussehra / Vijayadashami20 October 2026

Dussehra follows the nine nights of Sharad Navratri. Many Hindus keep it for Rama's victory over Ravana, who had abducted Sita. In other regions, as Vijayadashami, it honours Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Entry 5 is the same festival, a year on.
How it's celebrated. In much of North India, Ramlila plays retelling the Ramayana build to this evening. Towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are then burnt, often with fireworks. Delhi, Varanasi and Ayodhya are known for Ramlila. In Mysuru a large procession honours the goddess Chamundeshwari, showing how the day differs by region.
Sources: Britannica: Dussehra and Vijayadashami · India Legacy: Dussehra, Rama and Ravana · timeanddate: Dussehra
Diwali / Deepavali8 November 2026

The main day of the five-day festival of lights, when Hindus worship Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune. In many North Indian traditions it also recalls Rama's homecoming to Ayodhya. South India and Bengal tell other stories. Entry 6 is the same festival in 2027.
How it's celebrated. Families light small oil lamps (diyas) at homes and temples, draw rangoli at doorways, and worship Lakshmi, often with Ganesha, after dusk. Sweets, new clothes and family visits follow. Ayodhya is known for lamps along the Sarayu. In Bengal the night belongs to Kali, and Jains and Sikhs mark it in their own ways.
Sources: Britannica Kids: Diwali · Britannica: Lakshmi · Diwali Across India: Ayodhya, Kolkata, Amritsar
Vivaha Panchami14 December 2026

Vivaha Panchami commemorates the wedding of Rama and Sita in Mithila, kept on the fifth day of the bright half of Margashirsha. Devotees honour it as the sacred union of the divine couple and a model of marriage.
How it's celebrated. In Janakpur, Nepal, a symbolic wedding is held at the Janaki Mandir, and a procession representing Rama's wedding party arrives from Ayodhya. The festival there runs for several days, with enactments of episodes such as the bow-breaking. Elsewhere, including Ayodhya, temples hold a Vivaha Utsava and devotees worship Rama and Sita.
Sources: Wikipedia: Vivaha Panchami · Wikipedia: Devashila Yatra · Annapurna Express: Revisiting the glory of Janakpur
Rama Navami15 April 2027

Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya, according to devotees. It falls on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra and closes Chaitra Navaratri.
How it's celebrated. Devotees clean their homes, bathe a murti of Rama, and some place the child Rama in a cradle. Many fast, sing bhajans and read the Ramayana. Ayodhya is a major centre. At Bhadrachalam in Telangana, the wedding of Rama and Sita is celebrated on the Godavari's banks. Panakam is a common offering in the south.
Sources: Britannica: Rama Navami · Wikipedia: Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple, Bhadrachalam · SOTC: The Meaning of Ram Navami