Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Sanskrit word Rama carries two distinct meanings found in the Atharva Veda. One context defines it as dark, black, or night-colored linking to the term ratri which means night. Another context within other Vedic texts describes it as pleasing, delightful, charming, beautiful and lovely.
The ancient epic Ramayana states that Rama and his brothers were born to Kaushalya and Dasharatha in Ayodhya. This city sits on the banks of the Sarayu River within the kingdom of Kosala. His siblings included Lakshmana Bharata and Shatrughna.
A cycle of violence escalated reaching demon king Ravana who kidnapped Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Rama and Lakshmana traveled south meeting Sugriva to marshal an army of monkeys. They attracted dedicated commanders such as Hanuman who was a minister of Sugriva. Ultimately Rama prevailed killing Ravana and forces of evil to rescue his wife.
The composition of the epic in its current form is usually dated between 8th and 4th century BCE. Modern scholars suggest various centuries in the 1st millennium BCE with a reasonable estimate around the fifth century BCE based on language style and content. Archaeologist H. D. Sankalia found estimates placing incidents before 5000 BCE to be pure speculation.
Jain texts tell a very different version where Lakshmana kills Ravana instead of Rama. Thus he remains a non-violent person unlike the virtue of monogamy given in Hindu texts. Towards the end of his life Rama becomes a Jaina monk then successfully attains siddha followed by moksha.
Rama Navami is a spring festival celebrating the birthday of Rama falling on ninth day of bright half of Chaitra month. This typically occurs in Gregorian months of March or April every year. The day is marked by recital of legends in temples reading stories at home or participating in bhajan with music.