INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
India is gearing up for Janmashtami, which would be celebrated on 2nd September 2018 this year
Janmashtami is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India
It is also one of the oldest festivals of the subcontinent
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth human incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who was born at midnight on the 'eighth day'
or the 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar
Towns like Mathura and Vrindavan start preparing for the festival weeks in advance
It was here that Lord Krishna spent his early formative years, the tales of which are recited and re-enacted across all major pandals that
line the streets of Mathura and Vrindavan
Lord Krishna later moved to Dwarika in Gujarat, where he reigned as 'Dwarkadheesh' (King of Dwarika)
Devotees in Dwarika also celebrate the festival in full fervour
They light up the ancient temple of Dwarika and prepare delicious bhog and prasad for the deity
Apart from this, devotees from different regions of the country have come up with their own local way of celebrating the festival over the
Celebrations in south India are distinct from the ones in north India
In some parts of the country, Janmashtami celebrations go on for more than a day too.From legends of his birth, valour and childhood revelry
to his great penchant of food, Lord Krishna is surely one of the most loved characters from Hindu mythology
This Janmashtami, we bring you some of the most interesting Janmashtami titbits
The birth of Lord Krishna makes for one of the most loved folklores of all times
The kingdom of Mathura was under deep peril and misery during the rule of King Kansa
King Kansa had a sister, Devaki, who got married to Vasudeva
On the day of their wedding, the clouds roared with a prophecy that the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudev would be the cause of King Kansa's
Hearing this, he immediately threw Devaki and Vasudev into the prison (or 'Karaghar'), and started killing all their children as soon as
marks the birth of Lord Krishna2
It is said that Lord Krishna was born on midnight
To save Lord Krishna, Vasudeva was advised to take him to his friend, Nanda, who lived in Vrindavan
The torrential rains and thunderstorm made it a very difficult journey
But, Vasudeva was determined
He carried little Krishna on his head and kept walking
Little Krishna grew up in the care of Yashoda and Nanda
He and his gang of friends were among the naughtiest children in the neighbourhood
He loved white butter so much that he would often steal all of it that Yashoda would make at home
2018: Lord Krishna was very fond of white butter4
There is a popular ritual of dahi handi, which is basically an imitation of the butter-stealing episodes of Lord Krishna
Boys gather in a compound and form a human pyramid to break open the earthen pot fixed at a height of 20-30 feet from the ground
The boy who stands at the top is called Govinda and the groups are either called handis or mandals.5
Devotees of Lord Krishna observe a ritualistic fast during his birth anniversary
Devotees eat only a single meal a day before Janmashtami
On the fasting day, devotees take a 'sankalpa' to observe a day-long fast and to break it on the next day when the Ashtami Tithi is over
Through the day of fasting, no grains are consumed; the devotees take a meal comprising fruits and water, called 'phallar'.6
Janmashtami in Mathura, Vrindavan and parts of Braj is nothing short of a spectacle; temples and streets are decorated with beautiful lights
Sweetmeat shops are filled with delicious pedas and ladoos
Through the day, people throng the temples to pray to their deity
Idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are decked up in new clothes and placed on swings
On midnight, they perform the 'Krishna abhishekam', with milk, ghee and water, and proceed to offer 'bhog' to the God.7
The following day, which is referred to as 'Nanda Utsav', as an offering to the Lord, devotees put together a list of 56 food items, which
is referred to as the 'chappan bhog'
This is later distributed among the people after the fast
It constitutes Krishna's favourite dishes and usually includes cereals, fruits, dry fruits, sweets, drinks, namkeen and pickles in
quantities of eight under each category
Some of the common items that are found in the bhog are makhan mishri, kheer, rasgulla, jalebi, rabri, mathri, malpua, mohanbhog, chutney,
The legend of chappan bhog is tied to the episode of Govardhan parvat
Once due to the wrath of Lord Indra, the God of rains, Vrindavan was flooded
It rained continuously for many days in a row
People in Vrindavan went to Lord Krishna, who directed all of them towards Govardhan hill
He then lifted Govardhan hill on his little finger, under which all the villagers took refuge
He stood there for seven days without moving and eating anything
Once the rain subsided, people presented him 56 food items.9
Janmashtami is celebrated across the country with many local variations
People in Tamil Nadu draw beautiful and elaborated patterns called Kolam, made with rice batter on the entrances of their houses and tiny
3rd September, Parana Time (after 08:05 PM) On Parana Day Ashtami Tithi End: 07:19 PM On Parana Day Rohini Nakshatra End Time: 08:05 PM Dahi
Handi is on 3rd September 2018 Ashtami Tithi Begins at 08:47 PM on 2nd September 2018 Ashtami Tithi Ends at 07:19 PM on 3rd September 2018
Here's wishing you all a very happy Janmashtami 2018!
