How is Janmashtami Celebrated?

The Hindu holy day of Janmashtami celebrates the birth of the god Krishna. The date of the festival varies from year to year but typically falls during August or September in the lunisolar Hindu calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar used in the West.

During this celebration, devotees fast from food and drink until midnight, when they can break their fast by eating a variety of traditional foods. Devotees also perform a lot of prayers and drama performances to commemorate the birth of Krishna.

People in India celebrate this Hindu holiday with great fervor. They dress up as Lord Krishna and attend temples. The temples are decorated with lights and flowers, bhajans and kirtans are organised, and dances and dramas are performed.

A flurry of activity begins before dawn on the first day of the celebration, and continues until midnight, when devotees bathe their Krishna idol in milk or water that is treated with a combination of spices. The priests then pull apart the curtains that typically cover Krishna’s face, and the image is revealed.

Many devotees decorate their Krishna idol with flower garlands and colorful clothing, as well as jewelry that is worn by the presiding deity during worship. Some people also offer a variety of fruits and sweets to the Lord during this time.

Throughout the day, devotees sing a variety of devotional songs and read scriptures. They light incense sticks and chant the name of Krishna.

In South India, people often dress up as Krishna and visit their neighbours. They may also take their Balgopal roop, a miniature version of the newborn Krishna, to their homes and temples.

There is a tradition in South India where young boys are dressed up as Krishna and they go around the neighbourhood offering different kinds of sweets. These young boys are called dwarkadas or gopis, and they are considered to be special friends of the god.

They are also offered a meal of mawa, milk, sugar, ghee and cardamom powder. This dish is known as Mathura peda and is eaten by devotees during the celebration of Janmashtami.

On the second day of the celebration, people break their fast by eating a variety of snacks and other traditional foods. Typical snacks include Sabudana tikki, roasted makhana, aloo chaat and fruit chaat.

Other dishes that are often eaten during this time of the day include sabudana thalipeeth, dahi aloo, and Singhare ki poori.

Some people choose to have an alcoholic drink during this time, but most prefer to keep it light and simply enjoy the company of others. However, those who do choose to indulge in a drink are encouraged to be mindful of the other people around them.

The celebration of Krishna’s birthday is a time to remember how he brought good into the world and destroyed the evil daemon Kansha. It is a time to honor the power of love and compassion in your own life.