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Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated
with great devotion and enthusiasm in India
in the month of July or August. According to
the Hindu calendar this religious festival
is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna
Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight
in the month of Bhadon.
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.
Sri Krishna was born in a prison in the custody of Kansa.
Vasudev, His father immediately thought of
his friend Nand and decided to hand over his
child to him to save Krishna from the clutch
of Kansa. Krishna grew up in Gokul and
finally killed his uncle, King Kansa.
The
actual celebration of Janmashtami takes
place during the midnight as Sri Krishna is
believed to be borned on a dark, stormy and
windy night to end the rule and violence of
his uncle, Kansa. All over India this day is
celebrated with devotional songs and dances,
pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and
rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna.
The Janmashtami celebration of Mathura and
Vrindavan, the places where Sri Krishna had
spent his life, are very special. On this
day temples and homes are wonderfully
decorated and illuminated. Night long
prayers are offered and religious mantras
are sung in the temples. |
