Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is an annual festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. According to tradition, Krishna was born on the eighth day of the waning moon in the dark fortnight of the Bhadra month. His birth took place at midnight, under the Rohini Nakshatra (constellation). This festival usually falls in August or September.
Rituals and Traditions
One of the most important customs of Janmashtami is fasting. Devotees observe a fast throughout the day and break it only after midnight, when Krishna is believed to have been born. Many people consume only milk and dairy products, as Krishna was fond of them. Some devotees follow a strict Nirjal fast, which means they do not drink even a drop of water.
On the night of Janmashtami, Krishna’s idol is bathed in milk and water, dressed in new clothes, and worshipped. Homes and temples are decorated with flowers and lights. Sweet offerings, especially those made from milk, are first presented to Krishna and then shared as Prasad.
A famous tradition of this festival is Dahi Handi. Krishna, as a child, was known as “Makhan Chor” (butter thief). To recreate his mischief, a clay pot filled with buttermilk is hung high above the ground. Groups of young men form human pyramids to reach and break the pot, just like Krishna and his friends used to do. symbolizing Krishna’s love for butter.
Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan
Mathura and Vrindavan, the birthplace and childhood home of Lord Krishna, celebrate Janmashtami in the grandest way. These holy cities start the celebrations ten days before the main festival with Raslilas, Bhajans, and Kirtans.
On the night of Janmashtami, thousands of devotees gather at Krishna Janmasthan Temple in Mathura to witness the Abhishek ceremony at midnight. During this ritual, the idol of baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal) is bathed with milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and water, while the temple echoes with shankh naad (conch sounds), bells, and Vedic chants.
After the Abhishek, Krishna is offered Chappan Bhog, a feast of 56 different food items, including sweets and delicacies. The entire city lights up with celebrations, making Mathura and Vrindavan the best places to experience Janmashtami.
Mathura and Vrindavan come alive during Janmashtami. The temples, streets, and homes are filled with devotion and joy. The celebrations here are so grand that people from all over the world visit these cities to experience the festival.
The Birth of Lord Krishna
Around 5,200 years ago, during the last part of the Dvapara Yuga, Lord Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison of King Kansa in Mathura. His birth was extraordinary, as he appeared in a divine form, with four arms and a dark-blue complexion like a raincloud. He held a conch shell, a disc, a club, and a lotus flower in his hands, and the Kaustubha gem shone around his neck. Seeing his divine form, Vasudeva and Devaki offered prayers, and soon after, Krishna transformed into a normal baby.
Miraculously, Vasudeva’s chains fell off, the prison doors opened, and the guards fell into a deep sleep. Krishna urged Vasudeva to carry him across the Yamuna River to Gokul, where Nanda and Yashoda, a humble couple, lived. Despite the stormy night, the river parted, allowing Vasudeva to cross safely.
At the same time in Gokul, Yashoda gave birth to a baby girl, who was actually Yogmaya, the goddess of divine power. Yashoda had fallen asleep, and Vasudeva quietly placed baby Krishna beside her, taking Yashoda’s baby girl back to the prison. As soon as he returned, the prison doors closed, and his chains were back in place.
When King Kansa heard that a child had been born to Devaki, he rushed into the cell to kill the baby. But as he tried to harm her, the baby girl slipped from his hands, rose into the sky, and transformed into Goddess Durga. She warned Kansa that his destiny was sealed and that Krishna, who was now safe in Gokul, would eventually bring an end to his evil rule.
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