Krishna Janamashtami

Krishna Janamashtami is one of the holy festivals of India which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The festival is celebrated all over India in various forms. It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna as He took birth on this day. The festival generally comes in the month of August every year and this year it is being celebrated on 14th August. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival falls on Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark half) in the month of Shravan.

This day is not only considered as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, but it is also treated as the birthday of a divine personality who bestowed the mankind with divine knowledge.

History of Krishna Janamashtami

There are several legends attached to the history of Janamashtami. It is believed that Lord Krishna took birth on this day to kill Kansa, his maternal uncle. Kansa was the king of Mathura and was famous for his cruelty to the mankind. The birth of Lord Krishna is calculated by the historians way back to the 'Dwapar Yug', around 3,227 BC. Lord Krishna was born on the stormy and dark night on eighth day of Shravan month in a jail.

Krishna Janamashtami Celebrations

It is a Hindu festival, which is of great importance in North Indian states, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated with great pomp and show specially in Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, as these places are related to the life of Lord Krishna. There are a number of temples in Mathura and Vrindavan, where devotees from various parts of India flock during this festival to offer their prayers and pay obeisance.

People observe full day fast on seventh day of the Shravan month and offer prayers till eighth day morning as it is said that Lord Krishna took birth in the midnight seventh and eighth day of Shravan month. Apart from this a number of processions are also carried out in various places showing the events for the life of Lord Krishna. A large number of devotees participate in these processions known as 'Jhankis'. Apart from this special 'Krishnaleelas' (plays on the life of Lord Krishna) are presented by the devotees in the dance form.

Devotional songs (Bhajans) of Lord Krishna are recited along with chanting of 'Mantras' and 'Shalokas' from the holy book 'Geeta' and 'Vedas'. Devotees have a belief that chanting of the name of Lord Krishna for 108 times brings auspiciousness in the life of devotees.

Celebration of Krishna Janamashtami in Maharashtra

Krishna Janamashtami is a very famous festival in all over Maharashtra and the main attraction of the festival is 'Dahi Handi'. On this day a number of groups of young boys roam around in the city to participate in the special event where a clay pot filled with butter milk is tied on a certain height in between the two buildings located on both sides of a street. These boys make a human pyramid and the boy on the top of the pyramid breaks 'Dahi Handi' spilling buttermilk all over the people.

This is treated as a sign of humanity and well being. They boys participating in the human pyramid are known by the name of Govindas and also get certain prizes.

Sanjeev Verma