How is Krishna Janmashtami Celebrated?

by Astro Ved Online Astrology Consultation

Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami is a celebration of the birthday of Lord Krishna. The celebration happens all over India and all of Krishna’s temples. According to the Hindu calendar, the celebration happens on Ashtami of Krishna Paksha or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in August.

This year, it will be celebrated on 30th August 2021. Every year the date is different; however, the event always occurs on the 8th day of the dark fortnight, August or September.

How is Krishna Janmashtami Celebrated?

On the day, people wake up early in the morning, and they take a bath. After bathing, they wear clean clothes and do Sankalpa for fasting the whole day in the name of Krishna. Then, they visit any Krishna temple and worship the Lord there. People also worship the Lord in the temples of their homes.

The celebration of krishna jayanthi happens during midnight since Krishna took birth during midnight. The devotees celebrate this day like a birthday, where they prepare a hammock and place Krishna in it. Then they sing Krishna songs and swing the hammock for some time. This is also the time when Krishna Puja happens.

Before placing Krishna’s idol to swing, devotees wash it with Panchamrit. Then, they decorate it with new clothes and ornaments. They offer flowers, fruits, and sweets to Laddu Gopal or Krishna.

Two Days of Celebration

Krishna Janmashtami is majorly celebrated on two consecutive days. The first day is the celebration day for Smarta Sampradaya, and another one is for Vaishnava Sampradaya. Hence this year too, it will be celebrated on two days: August 30 and 31.

The celebration happens for two days because Krishna took birth at midnight, which links the same day and the next day as well. The first day is called Krishan Ashtami, on which devotees observe fast and celebrate it at midnight. The second day is called Kaal Ashtami, which is known as Janam Ashtami; it involves feasting, singing, and dancing.

Celebrations in the Different States

There are different rituals performed on Janmashtami; these rituals differ in every state, and the way of celebration is different too. However, the essence remains the same!

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

The festival is known as Gokulashtami and Sree Krishna Jayanthi. The day is celebrated here by reciting the Bhagwad Gita and singing the devotional songs. People decorate their homes with Kolams, which are floral designs made of rice powder. People also draw the footprints of Krishna at their entrance, and they visit the Krishna temples.

They offer various fruits and Makhan to Krishna since the Lord has a special liking for it. People also prepare snacks such as Seedai, Sweet Seedai, and Verkadalai Urundai.

In Andhra Pradesh, boys dress as Krishna, and they visit different neighbors and friends. People offer sweets and fruits to Krishna, which is later distributed among people as Prasad. People also observe fast there.

Gujarat And Uttar Pradesh

Janmashtami is celebrated on a huge level in Gujarat. Dwarka is nearby to the state, and this is also the reason for the grand fervor. Dwarka is an ancient city associated with Krishna. People celebrate the festival in the nighttime and perform Garba. They sing devotional songs of Krishna and dance. Devotees also observe fast, and children dress up as Radha and Krishna.

In Mathura city, Uttar Pradesh, the celebration is a must which crosses even weeks. This is because Mathura is the city of Krishna where the Lord lived and performed his parts. The city has about 400 temples of Lord Krishna, and hence the celebration happens in a majestic way. The Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir is there, which is built on the exact spot where Krishna was born. The city starts the celebration a few days before the date, and it carries on for more than a week.

Dahi Handi Ritual In Maharashtra

The Dahi Handi ritual is majorly celebrated in Maharashtra, where a Handi or a vessel made of soil is hung high from the ground. A group of men forms a human pyramid, and one attempts to climb this pyramid to reach the vessel. Upon reaching there, the man attempts to break the vessel full of curd or butter at the height of 20-30 feet.

This ritual depicts Krishna’s love for butter, and celebration happens after the Dahi Handi ceremony. This is mainly famous in Mumbai, that various Bollywood movies also showcase this ritual.