Sita Navami 2026

Sita Navami: The Appearance Day of Mother Janaki

Sita Navami falls on Vaishakha Shukla Navami and celebrates the appearance of Goddess Sita, who was found in the earth by King Janaka. It is also called Sita Jayanti or Janaki Navami. Just as Sri Rama Navami falls on Chaitra Shukla Navami, Sita Navami comes exactly one month later.

The Story of Sita's Birth

King Janaka of Mithila was ploughing the land for a yagna when his plough struck a box in the furrow, and inside was a radiant baby girl. The childless king accepted her as a gift of Bhudevi and raised her as his own. A furrow is called "sita" in Sanskrit, which gave her the name Sita. She is also called Janaki (daughter of Janaka), Maithili (princess of Mithila) and Vaidehi (of the Videha kingdom). Regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, Sita stands for devotion, patience and quiet strength.

Sita Worship in the Telugu States

Sita Navami is celebrated widely in the Mithila region, Bihar, North India and at Janakpur in Nepal. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sitamma is worshipped mainly during the Sita Rama Kalyanam on Sri Rama Navami, most famously at Bhadrachalam. Still, many devotees, especially women, honour Vaishakha Shukla Navami at home as Sitamma's birthday. Some panchangams also list Phalguna Bahula Ashtami as Sita Jayanti, so practice varies by region.

Puja Vidhanam

• Bathe in the morning and decorate a picture of Sita and Rama with flowers.
• Offer Sitamma pasupu, kumkuma, bangles, flowers and a saree or blouse piece.
• Light the lamp and recite the Sita Ashtottaram, Rama nama, or a few sargas of Sundarakanda.
• Offer panakam, vadapappu and payasam as naivedyam and perform harathi.
• Give tamboolam with pasupu and kumkuma to married women.

Vratham and Blessings

Some women fast on this day for their husband's long life and family wellbeing, eating after the midday puja. Worshipping Sitamma is believed to bring harmony and patience in married life and peace at home.

May Mother Janaki's grace make every home as joyful as the Sita Rama Kalyanam.