Janmashtami – The Festive Side of Love & Devotion

Janmashtami memorializes the birth of Lord Krishna. He was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to slay his own uncle Kansa, the tyrant king of Mathura. Yogmaya cautioned Kansa to prepare for his inevitable death. She told him his newborn nephew, with the help of divine intervention, was now in Gokul. Lord Krishna grew up in Gokul, until the opportune time to kill his uncle arrived.

The Celebration of Krishna Janmashtami

As Lord Krishan was born on the eighth day of the darkest fortnight (Krishna Paksha), in the month of Shraavan (according to ancient Hindu calendar), Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated on the same day. Devout Hindus attribute the dark complexion of Lord Krishna to the dark night in which he was born. According to the Gregorian calendar, Krishna Janmashtami falls sometime in between August and September and goes on for two days.

The Quintessential Rituals

The devout worshippers of Lord Krishna observe a fast until midnight, the time when He was born. They visit temples during the day to offer prayers. At midnight, devotees install idols of baby Lord Krishna in special cradles, which they station at temples and in their homes.

Also Part of the Celebration

Dahi-Handi is a special attraction of the celebration and is extremely popular in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Young men (known as Govinda), following the story of young Krishna breaking the earthen pots to steal butter, form a human pyramid to reach the celebratory clay pot (Handi), filled with curd/yogurt (dahi), and break it. Other than Dahi Handi, Vrindavan conducts Raas Leela or The Dance of Love for this occasion, depicting the pure devotional love of Radha and the gopis for Lord Krishan.

The Place to Be

Although, India celebrates Krishna Janmashtami in entirety, it is Mathura and Vrindavan where the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna is truly a spectacle. These two towns attract local and foreign tourists alike in a large number. Apart from that, ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temples across the country celebrate Janmashtami with equal pomp and show. Beautifully decorated temples shine brightly as the fragrance of flowers mixed with the scent of incense fill the ambience intoxicatingly. Devotees sing and dance to devotional songs and praise the Lord.

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