August 30
Janmashtami, the Birth Day of Krishna, is also known as Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna with great zeal and enthusiasm.
The festival that is celebrated all over the country to welcome Lord Krishna into this world. But, this year also, India has to celebrate ‘Janmashtami’ with Covid restrictions.
This the day when the eighth avatar of Vishnu, Lord Krishna was born.
As per Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in Bhadrapad month or on ashtami of Krishnapaksha.
Krishna was the eighth son of princess Devaki and her husband, Vasudev, the King of Yadus.
This is such an festival, which is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm and devotion. To witness the rituals related to Lord Krishna’s Birth, people also moved to different destinations like Mathura and Vrindavan
Celebration in Mathura varies from other places. Mathura’s Janmashtami has a lot of significance because there are a lot of customs that people follow on this day to celebrate the birth of ‘Lord Krishna’. People perform Raas Leela. which is a dance ritual which was performed by Krishna with his Gopis and Radha, which is really an interesting this to see in Mathura. Bhagavad Geeta reading is being done also. Various ceremonies are held in the midnight till dawn.
Also, it is also being celebrated with much devotion in Vrindavan, Gokul, Dwarka and other places of importance in the Country.
Most devotees do fast during the day and prepare bhog as an offering to the deity. People usually stay in Temples almost a major part of the day to witness the rituals happened in Lord Krishna’s Birth Day.
‘Dahi-Handi’ is an entertainment and competitive event associated with Janmashtami. People get themselves involved in group to celebrate Dahi-Handi. They hang a clay pot filled with Dahi(Yogurt) butter, or some milk based food at a tall height.
Young men and boys form different teams, make human pyramid, and attempt to reach or break the pot. Hundreds of people gathered and encourage the teams with songs, music and all.
But, due to Covid restrictions & guidelines, people are not celebrating this traditional event for the second consecutive year.
Janmashtami celebration under Covid guidlines
Today, Krishna Temples in different parts of the Country are seen decorated with flowers & others and devotees are seen entering to the temples with Covid restrictions, but not in all the places. In some states, still people are not allowed to the temples due to the rise of Covid Positive cases.
