Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival has a lot of importance in Hinduism. The birth anniversary of Lord Shri Krishna is known as Krishna Janmashtami. According to religious beliefs, Lord Shri Krishna was born on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month and in Rohini Nakshatra. The festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp. On this day, Lord Krishna’s child form Laddu Gopal is worshipped. A fast is also observed on this day.
Krishna Janmashtami (Lord Krishna birthday) Mathura is a world famous festival in India. Krishna was born in Mathura. So, especially at Mathura –Vrindavan where the lord spent his childhood, birthday (Krishna Janmashtmi) is celebrated with Great Spirit, devotion and pleasure all over India.
Celebrations of Krishna birthday (Janmashtami) takes place at midnight as Krishna god is said to have made his divine appearance in that hour. Krishna janmashtmi celebrations are performed at the all temples of Mathura Vrindavan but at Dwarakadhish temple some special events in the form of Jhulanotsava and ghatas…
Important information
- Krishna Janmashtami 2022
- Thursday, 18 August 2022
- Ashtami Start Tithi : 18 August 2022 at 09:21 pm
- Ashtami End Tithi : 19 August 2022 at 10:59 pm
- Did you know: It is the 5249th birth anniversary of Lord Shri Krishna. On Janmashtami, devotees usually observe fast through the day and the night.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival also known as Krishnashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is an annual celebration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan of Yadavas from Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) and was the eighth son born to the princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. Lord Krishna reciprocates in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers Him love. He is the most adorable, mischievous son, the most romantic lover, the most compassionate friend as described in ancient scriptures.
The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Shraavana (August-September) in the Hindu calendar. The dramatic enactments of the life of Krishna, Rasa lila, are organised in different regions of Mathura, Vrindavan, and regions following Vaishnavism in Manipur and many other places across the world. The Dahi Handi event also celebrate God’s playful and mischievous side, where teams of young men form human towers to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it, Rajasthan Budget Tours.
Birth of Lord Krishna
King Kansa, Devaki’s brother, ascended the throne by imprisoning his father, King Ugrasena. There was a prophecy which predicted that Kansa would be killed by Devaki‘s eighth son. Kansa got scared of that prophecy and locked Devaki and her husband in a prison cell. After Kansa killed the first six children, and Devaki’s apparent miscarriage of the seventh child, Lord Krishna was born as eighth child to the couple Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival.
Just after the birth, Lord Vishnu ordered Vasudeva to take Krishna to Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul so that Krishna can live and grow up safely there away from his Uncle Kansa. Vasudeva took Krishna with him and crossed river Yamuna and reached Gokul. When everyone was asleep, Vasudeva quietly exchanged him with Yashoda’s daughter and returned. Kansa, thinking her to be Devki’s eight child, threw her on a stone.
But she rose into the air and became the lightning in the sky and announced that Shri Krishna has already incarnated, and his destiny is in His hands and He is going to kill him and then she disappeared. Krishna grew up in Gokul with his brother, Balram and returned to Mathura and killed Kansa with the help of Balram.
Celebrations
Janmashtami is celebrated all over India and abroad with great enthusiasm. The celebrations start from early morning and go past midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. The temples are decorated with flowers and lights. The idols of Krishna and other deities in the temple are bathed with a variety of auspicious liquids including yogurt, honey, ghee in a kind of ablution ceremony called abhisheka. After that they are decorated with new clothes and jewellery Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival.
Images and idols of Krishna’s infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. Before midnight, devotees gather around in the temples and sing devotional songs and dance in the praise of Lord Krishna. At midnight devotees welcome the birth of Lord Krishna and exchange sweets and gifts. Children also enjoy dressing up as Radha, Krishna and their associates, and re-enacting Krishna’s pastimes and childhood events.
Janmashtami Fast & Puja Vidhi
- The celebration begins with the fast & Puja of Ashtami, and ends with the Parana on Navami.
- One who is observing fast must have some light Sattvic food a day before i.e. Saptami. Avoid any physical intimacy with the life partner on the following night and keep all the senses under control.
- On the day of fast, get ready early in the morning and pay homage to all the deities; then sit facing East or North.
- Take Sankalp of the fast while keeping holy water, fruit, and flowers in hand.
- After that, sprinkle the water mixed with black sesame over yourself and make a labor room for Devki Ji.
- Now, place a baby bed in this room and a holy Kalash on it.
- Additionally, place an idol or picture of Devki Ji feeding milk to Krishna.
- Perform the Puja by taking the names of Devaki, Vasudeva, Baladeva, Nand, Yashoda, and Lakshmi Ji respectively.
- This fast is opened only after the midnight. Grains are not consumed in this fast. Only fruits and something like that can be taken e.g. fried balls of Kuttu flour, sweets made of condensed milk, and Halwa made of water chestnut Sri Krishna Janmashtami Festival.
