About Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival
In this article let us know About Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival, it’s importance.
Janmashtami, is Hindu festival celebrated as the birth (janma) of the Lord Sri Krishna – the eight avatar of Lord Vishnu. Janmashtami is also known as Krishnashtami, Krishna Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami. Janmashtami is an important festival mainly for the people of Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism.
Lord Krishna was born on the ashtami (eighth) day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada month which falls in August or September. The number eight also has another significance in the Lord Krishna legend, he is the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva.
The Lord Kirshna was born in prison at midnight in Mathura, the present day Uttar Pradesh. A heavenly voice had prophesied King Kamsa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna, would be killed by Devaki’s eighth born child. Then the Kamsa slayed Devaki’s first 6 children. The seventh child Balarama, was given birth through the surrogacy of Rohini, Vasudeva’s other wife. When Krishna was born to Devaki, Lord Vishnu instructed Vasudeva to take the Krishna to Gokula, and swap the him with his friend Nanda’s new born daughter and bring her back to prison.
People celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing and praying together, preparing special food and sharing food, doing jagaran (night vigils), and visiting Lord Krishna or Vishnu temples. Recitation of Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita is organized in Major Krishna temples.
In Vridavan and Mathura Janmashtami is celebrated by observing a fast, Ratri Jagran and by singing devotional songs all the night. People also perform dance dramas called Rasa Leela, enacting the life of Lord Krishna.
In Maharashtra, people celebrate Dahi Handi (a pot of cuurd), next day after Janmashtami. Dahi Handi is a tradition which marks the Lord Krishna’s love for curd, butter and milk and the legendary antics of Krishna to steal them. Curd in an earthen pots hung high on tall poles and the young men climb on one another and form a human pyramid to break the pot. The group which wins will get a prize.
In the place like Gujarat and Rajasthan, people perform dancing and people in groups go out singing in praise of the Lord.
In South India, people decorate their house floors with rangolis. From the entrance of house to puja room, they place footprints of little krishna to symbolise Krishna’s arrival into their homes. Children are dressed up as Krishna and Gopikas respectively. In some communities Bhagavatham and Bhagavad Gita is recited. Lord Krishna’s favorite sweets and savouries are prepared and offered to Lord on this day.
ISKCON temples all over the world celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami, and the birthday of ISKCON founder-acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, which falls on the same day according to the Vaishnava calendar.