Janaki Navami

Festival falling on the ninth day
(navami) of the dark (waning) half
of the lunar month of Phalgun
(February–March). This festival celebrates the birth of Sita, wife of the
god king Rama and heroine of the
epic Ramayana. Sita is not born in the
usual manner, but is found by King
Janaka in a furrow as he plows a field
(hence the name Janaki, a female form
of Janaka). As the wife of Rama, himself
an avatar or incarnation of the god
Vishnu, Sita is believed to be a form of
Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife. In her absolute
devotion to her husband, Sita is considered a model for Indian women; women
performing the prescribed religious rites
for this day are promised children and
prosperity.