After saying goodbye to her friends, Aindri sat quietly, reflecting on all she had learned. She closed her eyes and recited the mantra her grandfather had taught her: “Ram Ram Raameti Rame Raame Manorame Sahastranaam Tatulyam Ram Naam Varanane.”
As she chanted, a sense of peace and clarity washed over her. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. “Of course!” she exclaimed. Dadima’s mala—it’s all about devotion and remembrance!”
Aindri jumped up and hurried to the family’s puja room. There, partially hidden behind a painting of Lord Ram, she spotted a glint of a tulsi mala. Carefully, she reached out and retrieved her grandmother’s missing mala.
“Dadima! I found it!” Aindri cried, rushing to her grandmother with the precious prayer beads. Her grandmother hugged her tightly, joy radiating from her face.
“You’ve done more than find my mala, beta,” her grandmother said softly. “You’ve embraced the true spirit of Ram Navami. Just as each bead on this mala represents the name of the divine, you’ve gathered precious wisdom from across India. And like the string that holds the beads together, you’ve found the thread that connects all these teachings – the timeless values of Lord Ram.”
Aindri beamed, feeling a sense of accomplishment and deep connection. She realised that her journey to understand Ram Navami had led her not just to the mala, but to a profound appreciation of the festival’s meaning.
Inspired by her virtual Ram Navami tour and her own journey of discovery, Aindri threw herself into the family’s Ram Navami preparations. She helped create a small chariot like the ones in Ayodhya, arranged flowers for a miniature Kalyanotsavam, and even attempted a few steps of the Ram Navami Nritya.
As Ram Navami dawned, Aindri led her family in chanting the mantra her grandfather had taught her. The words felt different now, filled with meaning and power. She closed her eyes, imagining the celebrations across India, feeling connected to millions of others honouring Lord Ram.
Later that evening, as the family sat together enjoying Ram Navami sweets, Aindri’s father asked, “So, beti, what was the most important thing you learned about Ram Navami?”
Aindri thought for a moment and replied, “I learned that Ram Navami isn’t just about celebrating Lord Ram’s birth. It’s about carrying his values with us daily—being truthful, kind, and brave.”
Her grandfather nodded approvingly. “Very wise, Aindri. And how will you apply these lessons in your life?”
Aindri’s face grew serious. “Well, there’s this new girl in my class. Some kids have been unkind to her because she’s different. I’ve been afraid to stand up for her, but now I think – what would Lord Ram do? He’d be brave and do the right thing, even if it’s hard. So tomorrow, I will be her friend and help her feel welcome.”
As her family beamed with pride, Aindri felt a warm glow in her heart. Her Ram Navami adventure had taught her more than she could have imagined. As she drifted off to sleep that night, the mantra echoed in her mind: “Ram Ram Raameti…” She knew that the spirit of Ram Navami would guide her, not just on this special day but throughout the years to come.
