Krishna Janmashtami is a day on which Lord Krishna was born to Devki and Vasudev. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami or Gopalkala. On the occasion of Janmashtami, Dahi-Handi is played by young boys and sweets prepared using milk and milk products are served. Read on to find more about significance of Janmashtami, traditions and ritual associated with Janmashtami and how Janmashtami is celebrated.
Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This religious festival is celebrated throughout India with devotion and enthusiasm on the eighth day of the Hindi calendar month, Bhadon. Janmashtami is also known as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami and Srijayanti. Everywhere the celebration is colourful and extravagant.
Significance
Janmashtami celebrated in Mathura and Brindawana, where Lord Krishna spent his childhood, is famous and devotees from all over India wish to be present there. People decorate temples and their homes for this day. The song and religious hymns praising Lord Krishna are sung all through the night. The idol of Lord Krishna as a child is bathed in a mixture of Ganga water, ghee (butter), honey, yogurt, milk, jaggery or sugar and tulsi leaves. The idol of infant Lord Krishna is then placed on the cradle and devotees sing various songs with vigor and zeal.
Janmashtami is celebrated in different ways in different places. In Maharashtra it is celebrated as Dahi-Handi, in which youths break the pots filled with yogurt and butter. These pots are hung high and group of young boys make a human pyramid and then break the pot. In some places they are even honored and prizes are given to the winning team. This custom resembles the events when Lord Krishna used to steal butter from the pots.
Tradition and rituals
Devotees keep a day long fast that day and celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, which was at midnight. The session of songs and religious hymns are carried out throughout the evening till midnight. Dedicated followers make beautiful jhulans for the infant Krishna and rock it to recreate scenes of Krishna's infancy. People get overwhelmed and many start dancing also while rejoicing the birth.
In South India, Janmashtami is known as Gokulashtami and is celebrated by saying prayers and offering fruits and special prasadam to Lord Krishna.
Jhankis from the scenes of the life of Lord Krishna are also carried out in different places. Different jhankis recreate the scenes of his childhood, adolescence, victories and special events in his life. There are even skits organized played by different artists.
In Gujarat the town of Krishna, Dwarka, is decorated and it comes live and the celebration continues till midnight. Huge number of devotees come from different places to see the pomp and show and take part in the religious festival.
Celebration of Janmashtami
Most of the people have a day long fast and they worship the God in the evening. The process continues till midnight in which song, dance, rasleela (skits) and jhankis are involved. At midnight, which is considered the right time of the birth of Lord Krishna, the idol of Infant Krishna is bathed in panchamrit (mixture of milk, ghee, curd, honey and tulsi leaves) and the idol is put on the cradle and rocked.
It is a tradition that all devotees will come forward and rock the cradle and in this way they feel they have spent some time with the Lord. Some of the devotees chant the 108 names of Lord Krishna to please him.
Celebrations vary from state to state slightly but the main intention is to recall Lord Krishna and his deeds for the betterment of mankind. People recall the teachings that he gave for leading a practical life. However, everywhere the birth of Lord Krishna is associated with festivity, joy and delight.
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