Janmashtami-te

Janmashtami

This is the day when we celebrate the Advent of Lord Krishna, who came down to earth for the protection of the good and the destruction of evil and to establish Dharma. It is on the eighth day (ashtami) in the dark fortnight in the month of Shravan (August- September).

This Avataar gave us the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of the Divine, which is our everlasting guide to life on earth.

Since Lord Krishna was born at midnight , people fast throughout the day and stay awake all night , singing Bhajans or listening to recitations from the Bhagavatham or hymns in praise of incidents in the life of Lord Krishna.

Celebrations are held in temples, particularly in those places associated with Lord Krishna’s life – Brindavan, Mathura and Dwaraka.

The next day in some parts of India, like Maharashtra, young boys hang up pots full of curds and buttermilk. They form human pyramids to reach the pot and break it. They remind us of child Krishna’s pranks.