Sita Nawami is celebrated as an important Hindu observance dedicated to Goddess Sita. Marking the birth anniversary of Sita, married women observe a fast for the well-being of their husbands. According to Rigveda, Sita’s birth was pre-written prior to Tretayug, where she herself is considered to be the mother earth, and the Vedas justify this myth as she was not conceived by anyone but aroused from the earth. It is believed that she was discovered by King Janak of Janakpur in the process of ploughing the field, hence Sita is also known as Janaki. Janakpur temple, which is one of the prominent heritage sites of Nepal is known to be the home of Sita, and King Janak’s palace.

Sita Nawami is also known as Janaki Jayanti, Sita Jayanti, Janaki Nawami and is celebrated on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month. The famous Janaki mandir of Janakpur dham is beautifully decorated on the occasion of Sita Nawami. It is believed that Sita was born on a Tuesday in Pushya Nakshatra. According to hindu mythology, Sita was the perfect consort to Lord Rama because he was also born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. That’s why, Sita Jayanti  always falls after one month of Rama Navami.

Sita is one of the crucial characters of Hindu’s major epic, Ramayan. Known as the daughter of mother earth, Sita is integral to Lord Ram himself. She is regarded as the embodiment of wifely devotion and self-sacrifice. Sita’s marriage to Lord Ram is an unforgettable tale where Ram won her as his bride by bending Shiva’s bow. In one of the central events of Ramayan, Vana Vas, Sita accompanies her husband when they go into exile together. Though carried away to Lanka by Ravana, she kept herself chaste by concentrating her heart on Ram throughout her long imprisonment. On her return she asserts her purity and also proves it by voluntarily undergoing an ordeal by fire. Rama, however, banishes her to the forest in deference to public opinion. There she gives birth to their two children, Kush and Luv. It is only after they reach maturity that they are acknowledged by Ram to be his sons.

Time and again Sita is put under scrutiny for her devotion and faithfulness, yet she always emerges as a virtuous being. Later, she calls upon her mother, Earth, to swallow her up and goes back to where she came from. Her existence may have been inspired by ancient beliefs, but a lot of hindu devotees still find her as an important icon and worship her as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She is frequently depicted in various Hindu paintings of the Ramayana and in Mithila arts. Till date, Sita, is one of the great exemplary characters who fought great battles of circumstances and life with grace, and is a great source of inspiration for women.