Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is the birth day celebrations of Lord Krishna, the Hindu deity, which is observed on the eighth day of the waning phase of the moon in the month of Badhrapada, in Hindu calendar, falling during August-September, every year.

Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated both at Temples and at homes, more activities at home and neighborhoods involving fun and furore. While traditional puja is done in temples, houses are decorated with flowers, right from drawing foot marks of Lord Krishna as though He is entering the home, offering of fruits and eatables, the celebrations are grand in the streets by sports like youth reaching the hanging pot with butter, besides a prize money.

Krishna Janmashtami function is held on varied names at different parts of India, however on the same day, such as Dahi Handi in Maharashtra, Gokulashtami in Tamilnadu. The celebrations at Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna are done in a grand manner, when large numbers of tourists pour in to participate in the festivities.

History

The source of this festival can be drawn to Vishnudharmotta Purana, Skanda Purana, etc works of ancient times, which mark the day of celebration, although the Ashtami thithi (moon’s phase) of different months are indicated. The former specifies the month of Badhrapada and the latter conveys that it is Shravana month.

Lord Krishna’s life story can be known through SrimathBhagavatham and from literature of later period like Naraayaneeyam by Narayana Bhattathri of Guruvayur. Krishna was born as the Eighth son of Sri Vasudeva and Devaki mata, with purpose of destroying Kansa, who was an arrogant ruler. Kansa and his counterpart Sishupala was originally Lord Vishnu’s gate keepers in Vishnu’s abode Vaikunt, cursed to come to earth, only to return home after the Lord destroys them in demonstration of Lord’s arrival to protect wherever evil things happen. Kansa and Sishupala were to be killed by Lord Krishna in eighth Avatar, like Rama and Kumbakarna in the Ram Avatar, which was seventh and Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyakshas in the Nrusimha Avatar which was fourth.

Lord Krishna is portrayed as a fun loving child and romantic youth in these literatures, although in the later period, particularly in Mahabharat times, a well-endowed political strategists and supporter of virtuous deeds. In childhood he loved butter. In youth, he was playful with Gopikas, the fun loving dancing girls. In adult hood, as the king of Dwarka and as the friend of Pandavas and Kauravas, he played a remarkable role. Ultimately, during the 18 day War between Kauravas and Pandavas at Kurukshetra, he took the choice of playing the Charioteer to Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, when he revealed himself as the Lord Vishnu and rendered Bhagavat Gita, which is held as the religious code for Hindus this day.

Celebrating Janmashtami has evolved over a period of time; devotee’s offering leaves, flowers, fruits with dedication as suggested by the Lord Himself in Chapter 9 of Bhagavat Gita and performing pujas.

The Festival

On Janmashtami day, most of the Hindus observe fast until midnight which is the time when Lord Krishna was born and offerings are made to him at that time, in the form of Tulsi leaves, variety of fruits, particularly Jamun fruits, and large number of eatables specially prepared for the function and mainly butter, which is the favorite item for Child Krishna. After Prayers, people take their food.

During the following day, there are fun rich sports activities are held, in some parts of India, particularly in Maharashtra and Tamilnadu, like a butter pot would be hung in a rope tied to two posts apart, which the youth would attempt to reach and break, while a set of people would raise the pot to further heights making it difficult for the contestants to reach it with their sticks too. There is another sport played in Tamilnadu, in which a pot with the prize money would be tied to a post of significant height, which will be fully pasted with oil making it difficult for one to climb and contestants to climb with meager cloths worn, and the post is also agitated then and on. The entire gathering around these sports activities would enjoy the fun and many people wait for this occasion for them to watch.

All the festivities are observed apart from doing the Prayers at temples and at homes.

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