Krishna Janamashtami 2021

India is a place of religion and deities. Indians hold high value and regard for festivity. With festivals of colors and lights, there are festivals of birth as well. Among those, Janamashtami is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals in India. 

Janamashtami :

Janamashtami, also known as Srikrishna Jayanti or Gokulashtami is celebrated in the remembrance of the birth of Lord Krishna even after 1000 years today. Lord Krishna, a popular Hindu deity is considered supreme in Hinduism and his birth is a metaphor for light in the old dark days of evil and misery. He was born in Mathura on the midnight of the eighth day of Bhadrapada month which falls in either August or September.

The significance Of Janamashtami:

Lord Krishna is considered to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. An avatar of Vishnu who destroyed evil and won over it with goodness. He was a doer of good. And, for the believers of Vishnu, it's all the more special a reason to celebrate his birthday with pomp and show. Even as his life is remembered, he has become a prominent figure in Hinduism. His qualities of living childhood to the fullest, protecting the goodness in the world, and standing tough against evil make him unforgettable.

Janamashtami or Krishna Janamashtami is celebrated with a lot of fervor in Lord Krishna's birthplace, Mathura. However, the religious essence is also vivid in Vrindavan,  West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and across India.

People dance, sing bhajans and praises for Lord Krishna, pray in Krishna temples and fast for the two days of Janamashtami. Special Krishna Pujas are performed. His life is told and re-told and admired by one and all. There are elaborate dramas called Raas Leelas of Krishna Lilas to reflect the importance of the birth of Lord Krishna. Fireworks enlighten the darkness as he was believed to bring light. The 10th chapter of The Bhagavata Purna, a dedication to Krishna's life can be heard on these days as well. Sharing food and offerings as people remember Lord Krishna is another aspect of the joy of this festival. Sweets including Lord Krishna's favorite Maakhan Mishri are distributed with joy. Youngsters especially dress up as Lord Krishna and visit family and friends. In some places, kite flying is also seen as a part of celebrations.

After Janamashtami, Dahi Handi is a special way to remember Lord Krishna who loved to steal butter and curd. A pot containing a mixture of the two is suspended quite high above the ground and groups of people form pyramids to reach and break it. A taste of his childhood life, Dahi Handi reflects the early chirpy days of Lord Krishna.

Even in places outside India, like Bangladesh, Fiji, Pakistan, Arizona, sermons on Krishna, and decorations in Krishna temples can be witnessed. 

This year, Janamashtami falls on 30th August across all Indian states. 'Hare Krishna' and 'Hare Bol' will chant in the air soon. Happy Janamashtami!