It may be known as Gokulashtami or Sreekrishna Jayanthi in
some regions. According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is
celebrated on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in
the month of Shravana or Bhadra (in the Hindu calendar, there is a
leap month once every three years).
In India, is a Gazetted holiday in Bihar, Chandigarah,
Chattisgarah, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Miizoram,
Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In Tamil Nadu this holiday is known as Sri Krishna
Jayanti.
Sri Krishna is considered as the one of the most powerful
human incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. He was born around 5,200 years ago in
Mathura. The sole objective of Sri Krishna’s birth was to free the Earth from the
evilness of demons. He played an important role in Mahabharata and propagated
the theory of bhakti and good karma which are narrated deeply in the Bhagwat
Geeta.
As per the Hindu calendar,
the occasion of Shree Krishna
Janmashtami is observed in the Bhadrapada month on the
eighth day (Ashtami tithi) of Krishna Paksha. The festival usually falls in
August-September in the Rohini Nakshatra.
The devotees celebrate the festival with much devotion and vigor across India
as well as in some foreign nations too. One interesting and significant aspect
of Krishna Janmashtami is the ritual of Dahi Handi.
The celebration of Dahi Handi depicts
the most loved activity of Lord Shree Krishna where teams of young people break
the earthen pot (Handi) which is filled with curd (Dahi), by forming a pyramid.
The day of Janmashtami is celebrated till midnight because that was when Lord
Krishna was born and the next day is celebrated with much vigor as Dahi Handi Festival.
How Can Be Celebrate Krishna Janmashtami 2020
Devotees prepare garlands, bathes the idol of Krishna in
fragrant water, read religious scriptures, etc. The bathing of Lord Krishna in
various fragrant and auspicious water is called Abhishek. Finally when the
clock strikes 12 at midnight, the priest of the temple draws the curtain off to
show the newly dressed Lord Krishna idol decorated with variety of garlands.
Nanda
celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna by distributing gifts to the whole
community and this practice is still observed in the name of Nandotsav where
rich people distribute required food and clothing to the whole community.
Sabudana
Vada, Sabudana Pakoda, Sabudana Tikki, Roasted Makhana, Aloo Chaat, Fruit Chaat
are some of the snacks prepared for the evening for guests and devotees. For
the main meal, generally Sabudana Thalipeeth, Singhare ki poori, Dahi aloo,
Samvat rice khichdi, raw banana kofta are prepared. And in dessert table,
carrot halwa, basundi, apple kheer, coconut laddoos are prepared.
One of the best
places to experience the festival is in the city of Mumbai.
Dahi Handi competitions take place at hundreds of locations across the city.
The huge ISKCON
temple complex in the beach side suburb of Juhu, and ISKCON Chowpatty (Sri
Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir) in South Mumbai also have special festival programs.
In Mathura, the
birthplace of Lord Krishna in northern India, temples are brightly decorated
for the occasion, many with displays depicting important scenes from the life
of Lord Krishna.
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