Janmashtami
Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an important festival celebrated by Hindus not only in India but across the world. The festival is to commemorate the birth anniversary of lord Krishna. Janmashtami is observed on the 8th day of the moon's waning phase in August or September.
Janmashtami is a Hindu festival also known as Gokulashtami or Shri Krishna Janmashtami. This festival marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Janmashtami usually differs with two dates, the first being the Smarta Sampradaya and the second being the Vaishnava Sampradaya. Meanwhile, Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in the holy month of Shravan, which is August and September in the Georgian calendar.
This year, Janmashtami will be celebrated on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Nishita Puja timings will start at 11:57 PM on 6th September and end at 12:42 AM on 7th September. This festival is a 2-3 days long celebration, which is celebrated enthusiastically by Hindus all over the world.
At many places on Janmashtami, drama-dance and enactments of the life of lord Krishna as ‘Krishna Leela’ is organised in many places. The most important event of Janmashtami is ‘Dahi Handi’.
'Dahi' refers to curd, and 'handi' refers to an earthen pot of milk product, although curd, makkhan (white butter) and milk are beloved by lord Krishna. An all-night vigil with the singing of devotional songs and fasting is also followed.
The next day, special sweets and dishes are prepared and distributed among all. After completing the morning rituals, devotees take Sankalpa, and later Krishna Puja is also performed at midnight.
Idols of Krishna are bathed with Pancha Amrit, then dressed in new clothes and jewelry, offered fruits and sweets and worshipped with flowers.
Janmashtami is one of the most awaited festivals for Hindus in India and is celebrated with great zeal. The festival is celebrated enthusiastically in Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat, the kingdom of Lord Krishna, after he became the king.
In Jammu, a flying kite event is organised on Janmashtami. This day is also grandly celebrated in the ISKCON temple of Manipur and is known as Krishna Janma.
Janmashtami has special significance in Orissa and West Bengal as well. In southern India, women decorate their homes with small footprints made of flour, which represent the baby Krishna who stole the butter.
Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami and Krishna Jayanti and is an auspicious festival mainly for the devotees of Lord Krishna. The festival marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
People celebrate this day by observing a fast and worshipping the idols of Krishna. Every year Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the holy month of Shravan (August-September).
In India, it is celebrated in many places, including Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc. On this auspicious day, devotees observe a fast a day before Janmashtami, and the fast is broken after completing the rituals at midnight.
That's all about Janmashtami, and we hope you enjoyed reading this article. If you want to know about Janmashtami, then you are at the right place.
We wish you a very Happy Janmashtami, may Lord Krishna bless you with a prosperous life. If you have any doubts or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We wholeheartedly welcome the feedback of our readers.
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