It is believed that Janmashtami is celebrated every year on the 'eighth day' or the 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.
India, the land of festivals, celebrates each one with great devotion and happiness with friends and family. Every festival has a social, religious and mythological value. Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, also has great significance from time immemorial. It is believed that Janmashtami is celebrated every year on the 'eighth day' or the 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.
To understand the traditions and rituals of Janmashtami celebrations, it is important to understand the significance of the birth of Lord Krishna.
5000 years ago, during the reign of the brutal King Kansa, Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, was a power driven and self-obsessed King. He married his sister Devaki to Vasudeva and according to a prophecy, it was believed that Devaki’s eighth child would be the one who would end Kansa’s rule, and kill him. Kansa had put Vasudeva and Devika behind bars fearing for his life. He even killed their first six children as soon as they were born. The eighth child, Lord Krishna was born on a day when it was raining heavily with thunder storm. Amidst all this, Vasudeva himself carried his baby across a river to his cousin Nanda and his wife Yashoda’s house in Vrindavan. Yashoda is believed to have raised Lord Krishna as her own son. As prophesied, Lord Krishna ended Kansa’s life years later, making Mathura safe again.
The festivities are more pronounced in Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Lord Krishna is believed to have been born and spent his childhood days.
1. The Rituals
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People generally observe a day-long fast and break it at midnight, the time when Lord Krishna was born. (Photo: PTI)
2. Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura
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Janmashtami celebrations are more pronounced in Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Lord Krishna is believed to have been born and spent his childhood days. (Photo: File Photo)
3. What is Rasleela?
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Rasleela, a special feature in regions of Mathura and Vrindavan, is a stage program of Krishna's youthful days. (Photo: File Photo)
4. Dahi handi
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Dahi Handi, to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break, is also a tradition followed in Maharashtra each year. It is a major event in Tamil Nadu termed as Gokulashtami. (Photo: File Photo)
5. Ashtami
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It is believed that Janmashtami is celebrated every year on the 'eighth day' or the 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. (Photo: File Photo)
6. Gokulashtami, Krishnasthami and Srijayanti
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Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami, Krishnasthami, Srijayanti. Janmashtami is marked by grand celebrations at the Krishna temples across India. (Photo: File Photo)
