Janmasthami Celebration

Sri Krishna! 🙏 

Radhe Krishna, Hare Krishna!

Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare!

As we in India celebrate Janmashtami, we get fascinated by the names, such as Makhan chor, Balya Leela, Ras leela, Govardhan dhari and many more.

In the pious land of Mathura & Vrindavan, lord Krishna spent his entire childhood days. We very heartily and happily celebrate the birth of Shri Krishna on the eve of Janmashtmi. We not only remember lord Krishna, but also it remind us of the pure and unconditional love and affection of Yasoda Maa.She has bestowed all her love for her little Kanha, even if she haven't given birth to him, still she like any other Maa, take care of her child. Lord Krishna, is the eight child of Mata Devaki.To save her little baby from Kansh mama, she had to give it to Mata Yasoda. As Krishna is the eight child of Mata Devaki, so Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated on the eight day and he is the eight avatar of lord Vishnu. 

This festival or puja is widely celebrated across the country and the day marks the birth of lord Krishna. Also known as Krishna Janmashtmi or Gokulashtami. Hindus celebrate this puja by fasting, praying, singing, preparing special food. Devotees visit Krishna & Vishnu temples to offer prayer. Recitation of Bhagavad-Gita or Bhagavata Purana at temples is a must. Dance dramas known as Raas lila or Krishna lila is being organized. 

Dahi Handi, a very popular activity, mostly famous in places like Mumbai and Pune.

In eastern state of Odisha, this festival is referred as Sri Krishna Jayanti or simply Sri Jayanti.Devotees, does fasting and so worship till midnight. Bhagavat Purana is recited from the 10th chapter, a section dedicated to the life of Krishna. The next day " Nanda Utsav" is celebrated, for lord Krishna's foster parents Nanda and Yasoda. Devotees bring water from Ganga ghat to bathe Radha Madhava during their Abhisheka ceremony.

This grand Abhisheka is performed at midnight hours for Radha Madhava Deities, while bhog offerings of more than 400 items is offered with devotion.

This year Janmashtami celebrated on Aug 11 and Aug 12. The puja vidhi varies from region to region.

Details of puja performed is mentioned below :

1 - Place the idol of lord Sri Krishna on a cradle or you can also place it on a wooden plank neatly on a yellow or red puja cloth.

2 - Offer water to clean lord's feet, followed by Abhisheka, where Krishna is bathed in water and milk.

3 - Fresh clean cloth to wipe the idol and then put on new vastra 

4 - Decorate with flowers,  tulsi leaves, put on chandan, sing prayers, after chanting, offer sweets and

do Aarti. After Aarti, seek almighty's blessings.

The sweets, fruits are first offered to the God and then distributed as prasad. 

Lord Krishna prasad consists of lord's favorite sweets. It generally have milk sweets like Rabri, Kheer, Peda, Misti doi, Kalakand.

Babies, toddlers love to get dressed as Kanha, mukut with peacock feather on head, jewelries all over body, holding a bansuri, gulping makhan. 

It's a delight to watch kids dressing up and performing dance and singing tunes on Janmashtmi.

Truly, there's a God in every child.

 

Jai Sri Krishna 🙏

Happy janmashtmi!