Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan is the auspicious day when Lord Krishna took birth on this planet. The birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great fervor and zeal in India in August or September. As per Hindu Calendar, this festival is celebrated on the 8th day of the dark fortnight which is called as Ashtami of Krishna Paksh. Lord Krishna is believed to be the most powerful soul and incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. His birth took place in Mathura before 5,200 years. And, that’s why the Mathura is called is Krishnabhumi.
This festival is celebrated all over India by the Hindu majority. The people called this festival by different names like Krishna Janmashtami, Sree Jayanti, Gokilashtami, and Srikrishna Jayanti. The birth of Lord Krishna took place to dispel evil from the earth and spread the message of love and brotherhood. Lord Krishna was the eights child of the Devaki and Vasudeva and he proved the prophecy to kill Kind Kansa. However, King Kansa tried many times to kill Bal Krishna when he was very small but every time his efforts were in vain Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.
Important Rituals of the Festival
Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan Some of the important rituals of this festival include:
- Devotional dance and songs
- Rocking baby Krishna in a cradle
- Night long offering of prayer and puja
- In some temples, the Bhagavad Gita is also read
- DahiHandi is an important ritual of this festival in Maharashtra.
Dahi Handi involve building a human pyramid and breaking a handi or earthen pot, filled with buttermilk, which happened to be Lord Krishna’s favourite as a child.
What is the Story of Janmashtami?
The story of Janmashtami is the story of the Advent of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the Bhadrapada month. The Supreme Lord appeared in Mathura in a dungeon to Queen Devaki and King Vasudeva, Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.
The story goes that Devaki’s brother; the tyrant Kansa, was told by a voice in the sky that one of her children would kill him. Kansa decided to kill Devaki so that she does not give rise to any children, but Vasudeva, her husband begged Kamsa to forgive Devki and promised that he will give any of her child to Kamsa, so then Kamsa on this assurance from Vasudev, let Devki go. He imprisoned both Queen Devaki and King Vasudeva. Kansa made sure that none of her children survived.
On the night of Lord Krishna’s appearance, Vasudeva was asked by the Lord Himself, to take Him as the baby to his friend Nandraja in Gokul. Nandraja’s wife as we know was Yashoda. Vasudeva was having a hard time to take the baby as Lord Krishna across the raging river Yamuna, Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.
This is when Lord Vishnu’s Shesh Naag arrived and helped Vasudeva to carry the child across the river safely. Vasudeva then exchanged Lord Krishna for a baby girl that Nandraja and Yashoda had that very night and headed back to the prison with the girl child.
When the cruel Kansa came to kill the baby girl, a divine miracle happened. The baby transformed into Goddess Durga who then warned Kansa about his impending doom. This is the story of the Supreme Lord, Krishna’s advent in this world.
Why do We Celebrate Janmashtami?
Janmashtami is a grand celebration to commemorate the appearance of Lord Krishna, who is believed to be the Supreme Lord or the Lord of the Lords. It is the celebration of joy, love, and divinity. The story of Krishna’s appearance reminds us through Kansa’s actions that ego and pride are the major faults in human beings which can only doom them Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.
It is because of our ego that we end up doing things that are not Godly. But with humility and love, we can defeat ego. The image of baby Krishna is the image of unbridled love. Lord Krishna’s appearance is a symbol of the mind’s prosperity, and it is this, that we celebrate.
How is Janmashtami Celebrated?
On the day of Janmashtami, the temple hall is decorated with beautiful and fragrant flowers, and thronged by devotees who are eager to have Darshan of the Lord and serve Him. There are varieties of flowers used for the beautification of the temples, and the festival starts from the early morning. One of the main rituals on this day is the ceremonial bathing of the deities Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.
Both the deities of Radha Krishna, and even Balaram get the ceremonial bathing, and then there is Mangal Aarti and more. Prasadam is distributed among devotees, and as mentioned earlier there are activities going on throughout the day with melodious Kirtan and chanting of the Holy name practically the entire day.
At midnight, the Lordships are offered an Aarti yet again, and hundreds of men and women watch with teary eyes, full of love and devotion for the Supreme Lord. The festivities go on until the next day as well. This is when Nandotsav is celebrated Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura Vrindavan.