Krishna Janmashtami Festival

Shri Krishna Janmashtami Festival is celebrated every year in Krishna Paksh Asthmi of Bhadrapada month. It is also known as Golulasthami, Rohiniashtami, and Saatam Aatham.

Lord Krishna is believed to be the one who stands for decimating the evil. During the infant days, he escaped from the evil designs of Kansa. His youngster image from Vrindavan along with cows and a divine figure of Mahabharata is a blessing for us.

His personified image and enlightenment in the middle of ‘Mahabharata’, gives us the message of life. He is the one who showed us the way of life by ‘Nishkam Karmyog’ or in English “selfless service”. 

History of Shri Krishna Janmashtami Festival

Lord Krishna was the son of Vasudeva and Devki (sister of Kansa). While Devki was marrying Vasudevaa, an Akashvani held that the eighth son of Devki will kill Kansa. That’s why Kansa putted Vasudev and Devki in lifetime prison and killed all their infant children, except the 8th who was suppose to bring his death.

Then Lord Krishna was born in the prison, but somehow Vasudev managed to save the Krishna and left him in Nandgaon with his friend Nandbaba who has a daughter. Vasudev brought Nand’s daughter to the prison. So on everyone starts celebrating this day as Janmashtami.

Traditions and Rituals of Krishna Janmashtami Festival

Fasting

The devotees fast for the whole day because they believe that they are doing it to protect Lord Krishna from Kansa, his maternal uncle and at 12 by midnight (the time when Krishna was born) the Krishna’s idol is bathed with milk and adorned with new clothes and enchanting jewelry. Ladies draw foot prints of kids with flour in a belief that the Lord Krishna will walk towards their house.

Raas Leela

It is a very popular tradition in the Brij area. Here it is being performed in temples and various places like Ashrams. It’s often believed that Lord Krishna use to play Raas Leela along with the Gopis and this is how the trend of Raas-Leela became popular.

Dahi Handi

The main tradition of Shri Krishna Janmashtami is Dahi Handi, which is being celebrated all across the country. In Dahi Handi, a team of youth forms a human pyramid to break the high hanging Dahi Handi filled with butter.  In many places it is performed as a  competition where the winning teams get a prize.

Centers of Krishna Janamashtami Celebration

The main center of the celebration of Janmashtami are the cities Mathura and Dwarka. It is because Lord Krishna was brought up in Mathura, Gokul, Nandgaon, and Vrindavan so it makes the cities a main attraction on this day. Not only in these places, but this festival is performed with enthusiasm all over the country.