Why is it celebrated?
The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great zest by all believers of Lord Krishna to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. It is also known as Gokulashtami or Krishnashtami.
Importance:
Lord Krishna was the eighth incarnation if one of the Hindu’s supreme God- Lord Vishnu. Janmashtami is celebrated to mark the birth of evil over good, as Lord Krishna took birth on Earth to root out evils. It is believed that on this day, lord Vishnu rein carted as Lord Krishna on earth. He was born in prison, to Vasudeva and Devaki. Mysterious events took place that night, owing to the divine powers of God. Vasudeva escaped from prison, carrying the newly born in a casket and travelled all the way to Gokul in pounding rains, and placed his son near a woman named Yashoda, who had just given birth to a girl. He then took the girl away to the prison and Krishna grew up as Yashoda’s son. All this was done to protect Krishna from his cruel uncle Kansa, who killed all the baby boys born to Devaki to protect his life, as Gods had predicted that Kansa will be killed by one of Devaki’s sons.
How is Janmashtami celebrated?
On this day, temples and homes are decorated and illuminated. The celebrations last all day, but according to tradition, the birth of Lord Krishna took place at 12 in the night. So, night long prayers and hymns are chanted. The idol of Balmukund (baby Krishna) is given a bath in Panchamrit, which is made of Gangajal, ghee, milk, honey and curd. After chanting of holy mantras, the idol is then placed in a cradle.
It is the biggest event in the town of Vrindavan, which is extravagantly decorated and people from all parts of the country, and even devotees of Lord Krishna from foreign lands pour in to join the celebration. Raslilas are performed to bring to life the incidents of Lord Krishna’s life.
When is Janmashtami celebrated?
The festival is celebrated in the moths of august or September. According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami celebrations take place on the eighth day of the Bhado month.
Where is Janmashtami celebrated?
Janmashtami is an Indian Hindu festival. All over the country, people celebrate the birth of their loved God each year. The celebrations of Gokul, Vrindavan and Mathura are quite remarkable and famous all over the world. Lord Krishna spent his childhood in all these places and hence they are considered sacred for the Hindus.