On Shri Krishna Janmashtami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, devotees from all over India flocked to temples with fervour and devotion. Thousands of followers came to pray and ask for blessings. In many temples around the nation, religious rites that started early in the morning were accompanied by the ringing of bells, chanting of mantras, and bhajans.
Early in the morning, there was a lively Mangala Aarti at Mathura's Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, which is thought to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
In Noida, grand celebrations were held at the ISKCON Temple in Sector 32, where the premises echoed with kirtans and devotional offerings. In Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, the Prem Pratik Temple hosted a Mangala Aarti, while in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the historic Govind Dev Ji Temple saw an overwhelming turnout of devotees.
The celebrations across these cities reflected the deep spiritual connection and widespread devotion to Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna’s birthday falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapad. While Janmashtami is celebrated nationwide, Mathura and Vrindavan hold special significance—one being his birthplace and the other where he spent his childhood and performed his baal leela.
Temples were adorned with flowers and crystal chandeliers, while idols of Lord Krishna were decorated with colourful clothes and jewellery. At midnight, a special ritual was performed in which the idol of Lord Krishna was bathed in milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, and water. During the Krishna Abhishek, bells were rung, conch shells blown, and Vedic hymns chanted.
After the bhog, prasad was distributed to devotees, many of whom waited for hours for Krishna darshan and puja.
The traditional Dahi Handi festival was also celebrated in several regions. Known as Gopalakala or Utlotsavam in some areas, Dahi Handi is one of the most popular festivities of Krishna Janmashtami, especially in Maharashtra.
Dahi refers to curd, while handi is an earthen pot used to store milk products. Lord Krishna is often called Makhan Chor (butter thief) as he was fond of stealing butter. Along with his friends, he would form human pyramids to break pots of butter and milk hung from the ceiling.
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