Janmashtami

Month : September
Place : India
Famous For : Religious Festival
Attractions : Rasleela, Jhankia (Act Shows), Traditional Customs, Lights, Sweets.

Janmashtmi, also known as Gokulashtami or Krishna Ashtami, is one of the most important Hindu festival. It is celebrated with full grandeur as the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Though this festival takes a more colorful and grand shape in Krishna's land of Gokul, Mathura and Virindavan, the enthusiasm of Krishna's birth is spread all over the country, during the festival.

Popularly known as Krishna Jayanti

Janma means 'birth' and Ashtami means 'the eighth day'. The eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born in the Dwapar Yuga as Lord Krishna, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada which falls in the month of August/September. This day is celeberated as Janamasthmi.

Reason for Birth of Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna, one of the divine incarnations of Lord Vishnu, was born around five thousand years ago, to Devki and Vasudeva, when they were captivated by Devki's own brother King Kansa. This Jail Cell in Mathura is called Krishna's Janmasthana.

All through his life, he played numerous roles, as a responsible mentor, a mischievous son, a romantic lover, a caring brother and a best friend. He was best known for his playful pranks that he played on Gopis, while he stayed with Yashoda and Nanda, spreading happiness and gaiety in the entire Gokul. He astonished everybody with his mystical activities, since a very tender age, especially when he killed the demons sent by Kansa and picked up Gobardhan Parvat on his small finger to save the entire village from Lord Indra's prakop. He played his part of an intense lover with Radha, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and enjoyed Ras Lila with the Gopis in Vrindavan.

Krishna was born to kill Kansa, the demon king of Mathura, who was a threat to the sages on Earth,and he completed this task along with his brother Balrama, at an early stage of his life. He learned important lessons in the field of Spirituality, Vedic Arts and Politics from his Guru Sandipani Muni and played the role of an obedient and efficient student. He was the source of important lessons of life, given to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War, when he also played a role of a Charioteer. These lessons are mentioned in the revered Hindu Epic, Shrimada Bhagvada Gita, which teaches one the essence of life.

Janmashtami Celebrations

The festival is celebrated with full devotion and vehemence, throughout the country. People visit Lord Krishna temples on this day, which are decorated with flowers and lights , just like the actual birth ceremony of the Lord. Idols of Lord Krishna in his various acts and roles are placed in the temple, especially the idol of infant Krishna which is kept in a silver cradle, with a bed of flowers and silk cloth. Lord's idol is bathed with panchamrit and including curd, milk, dry fruits, honey and basil leaves which is later distributed as Shriprasad among the devotees. People observe fast on the occasion and gather in the temple to express their happiness to Shri Krishna by offering him his favorite milk products, singing devotional songs describing his playful childhood acts and participating in Arti at midnight. Long cues of devotees throng the temple and wait for an opportunity to pull the rope of Krishna's cradle and to mark their presence in his house.

Official Website :http://www.krishnajanmashtami.com