Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth (janma) of Lord Krishna on the eighth (ashtami) day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September). Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Lord Krishna was born in an era of turmoil, chaos and when evil was reigning everywhere. Born as the eighth child to Devaki and Vasudeva, he proved the prophecy right that proclaimed the evil King Kansa will die in the hands of his eighth nephew.
The occasion is observed especially in Mathura and Vrindavan, the scenes of Krishna’s birthplace and childhood. On the preceding day, devotees observe a fast until midnight, the traditional hour of his birth. Lord Krishna’s idols are cleaned and bathed in water and milk and decorated with new clothes and ornaments. Then, they are placed in a cradle to symbolise his birth. Temples and household shrines are decorated with leaves and flowers and sweetmeats are first offered to the god and then distributed as prasad to devotees.
The devotees of Krishna commemorate the events of his birth by preparing elaborate representations of Mathura (his birthplace), the Yamuna River (over which he was transported to safety) and Gokul (the scene of his childhood), using small images of the god, the other participants, and the animals and birds of the forest.
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Lord Krishna’s uncle, King Kansa, wanted to kill him because of an akashvaani or pronouncement that he would be killed by him. So as soon as he was born, his father Vasudeva took him across the Yamuna to Gokul where he was then raised by his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda. On Janmashtami, devotees honour Lord Krishna’s birth night and his victory over King Kansa.
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Just like several other festivals, the significance of Krishna Janmashtami is to promote goodwill and the victory of good over evil. It also celebrates togetherness since this festive occasion brings people together when families and friends join in to celebrate it.
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The festival is also a time for group singing and dancing. On this auspicious day, the famous folklore of his birth is narrated in Hindu temples and devotees organise plays and dance performances based on Lord Krishna’s life.
How it is celebrated in different parts of the country:
Besides the pujas, this festival is also celebrated in different ways across the country.
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North India-Mathura
Janmashtami is celebrated at a grand scale with unmatched zeal and grandeur in Mathura and Vrindavan. Lord Krishna was born in Mathura and grew up in Vrindavan. Devotees from all over the world gather to see and participate in the rituals and events that take place on the auspicious day. Krishna leelas and Raas leelas that narrate the life of Lord Krishna in the form of plays and dance performances are organised. The temples in those regions that are decorated with flowers and lights come to life at night.
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Maharashtra
Lord Krishna was believed to be extremely fond of butter and curd and would attempt to steal it from matkas and pots away from his reach. In Maharashtra, the youth celebrates this festival by organising Dahi Handi competitions. Men form a human pyramid to break an earthen pot filled with curd hung about 20-30 feet from the ground on a rope. It makes the festival lively and extremely euphoric.
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Gujarat and Dwarka
Since Lord Krishna founded his kingdom in Dwarka and Janmashtami is celebrated as a great event in Gujarat. On this auspicious day, people in Gujarat celebrate the festival with decorating household temples, singing devotional songs and preparing sweetmeats to offer to God. The day is also marked with celebrations similar to Dahi Handi but this festival is known by Makhan Handi.
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South India
In Tamil Nadu, people decorate the floor with beautiful patterns made of rice batter called kolams apart from observing a fast for the whole day. Bhagavad Gita is also recited and offerings are made to God. Popular sweet dishes such as seedai, sweet seedai, verkadalai urundai are prepared to mark the celebrations. In Andhra Pradesh, young boys dress up as Krishna and devotees sing devotional songs and chant mantras.
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By Rishikesh Beeharry