Janamastami - August 14, 2009

Janmashtami is a Hindu festival, specially observed in the honor of Lord Krishna (the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The day is celebrated with great fervor and devotion as it is the same day when Lord Vishnu was born to his mother Devaki in a prison cell. The festival usually falls on the eight day of the dark half of the month of Bhadraba.

Also known as Krishnastami or Gokulastami, Janamashtami is a day to rejoice, to pray to the almighty for the wellness. On the auspicious day devotees observe fast and keep vigil till midnight. Most of the people visit the nearby temples of Lord Krishna and offer prayers in large crowds. The prayers and worship starts in the evening and continues till midnight and the devotees offer fruits and specially prepared food to Bal Krishna. The festival of Janmashtami brings good luck and prosperity in every one's home.

In each and every part of the country Janmashtami is celebrated in its own way. But the celebrations of Janmashtami is somewhat different in Mathura, where Lord Krishna was born. The festival is celebrated with lot of splendour and continuous for the period of three days The first two days are celebrated in a colourful manner. On the second day of the festival the popular ceremony known as 'Dahi Handi' takes place where the matka (pot) containing curd, milk and other ingredients is broken by the youths. During the puja (prayer) the image of infant bala Krishna is bathed with Panchamrit and than decorated with new costumes and other makeup. During the midnight the aarti is performed by blowing conch and ringing of bells. As soon as the aarti is over. Prasad is distributed among devotees after the birth ceremony. Janmashtami creates an ambiance of devotion and happiness among the devotees.

As the Lord Krishna was very fond of the butter and other milk products, so his devotees make sweets that are specially made of the milk products such as Dooddhachi kheer, Pedha, Gopalkala or the Gulabjamun. Apart from that Shrikhand and Singhare Ki Poori are the other delicacies.

The main highlight of this three festival are the Jhankis or tableaus. These Jhankis portray the various scenes that are related to the Lord Krishna's childhood stories. It is the kind of melodrama where small children play the role of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha followed by the long possession of people from various parts of the country. The raslilas include Birth of Lord Krishna in jail, Vasudev carrying Krishna in a bucket and crossing the Yamuna River, Vasudev's return to the jail, Kansa killing Yashoda's daughter and lastly the little Krishna in a cradle in Gokul. ongs and Bhajans are are sung by the people accompanied by dancing in praise of their favourite 'Krishna Lala'. Another prominent part of the Janmashtami celebrations are the Jhulans (cradles) for the bala Krishna.