The Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Bālakāṇḍa, sarga 18) tells that after King Daśaratha's sacrifice for sons, Kausalyā gave birth to Rāma on the ninth day of Caitra, under the Punarvasu nakṣatra, at midday. His brothers Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna were born soon after.
Rāma is remembered as maryādā puruṣottama, the ideal of dharma in every role: son, brother, husband and king. Many keep the nine days before as Caitra Navarātri and read the Rāmāyaṇa or the Rāmacaritamānasa through them.
