Students coming from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds study at Alakh Prakash Goyal University, Shimla in unison. Celebrating their cultural identities, traditional practices and customs helps in building a sense of community among the students seeking higher education.

This sense of community strengthens bonds between the students and eventually helps in their educational endeavours and in reaffirming their identities in a place like ours where students come to study from across the globe.

In accordance with this tenet, Ram Navami is celebrated annually on the university campus. This year too, we marked the occasion with auspicious sentiment

Ram Navami Celebration, 2024

The day is a celebration of the birth of Lord Rama. Though Ram Navami was on Wednesday 17 April, the University administration and students started preparation a week in advance. 

The pooja ritual started at 11:15 AM, and it continued till 1 PM. The Ram Navami pooja rituals are performed in a specific time window called Muhurat, and it was duly regarded by the university administration, staff, and university students.

“Lord Ram was born during the Madhyahna period, which is the middle of Hindu day. Madhyahna which prevails for six Ghatis (approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes) is the most auspicious time to perform Ram Navami Puja rituals. The mid-point of Madhyahna marks the moment when Shri Ram was born, and temples symbolize this moment as the birth moment of Lord Ram.” — Drik Panchang.

Hon’ble Chancellor, Ramesh Chauhan, Dean of Faculties Dr. Ashwani Sharma, and Registrar, Dr. Ankit Thakur performing pooja on the occasion of Ram Navami.

After the pooja ritual, worship of the Sun god and Kanya Pooja — worship of nine girls representing nine forms of Goddess Durga — was performed at APG University temple.

At the end of the event, prasadam, fruits and sweets were distributed among students and university staff. The prasadam, made by university staff, is considered to be blessed by Lord Ram.