⚙️Janmashtami - जन्माष्टमी

After Krishna’s birth hour, people wash the statues (Murti) of baby Krishna(Laddu Gopal) and their clothes to place it in a cradle. Then people break their fast by distributing sweets and food among themselves. The women folks make tiny footprints in their house’s exit and kitchen. This symbolises the journey of Shri Krishna into their homes.

The temples which are popular for Shri Krishna organise the recitation of Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavad Purana. Dance events and drama organise in the temples known as Rasa Leela and Krishna Lila. Rasa meaning aesthetics, emotion or sweet and lila refer as act, play or dance or more broadly as Dance of Divine Love. The tradition of Janmashtami is mainly popular in Mathura and Vrindavan. It is also popularly celebrated in various states of India like West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, etc.

Janmashtami is popularly known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini and Shri Krishna Jayanti. It is also celebrated in the states outside India such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Fiji, Pakistan, etc.

In the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Dahi Handi is celebrated every year after a day of Krishna Janmashtami. Dahi is curd and Handi means earthen pot which is generally known as Matka or Matki. During the activity of Dahi Handi, human pyramids try to break the high hanging pots filled with yoghurt and butter. It resembles the childhood of Laddu Gopal when he steals butter and milk and is also called Makhan Chor. The participants in Dahi Handi event is known as Govinda or Govinda Pathak. The theme story is prepared in the temples according to the beliefs and rituals of people which show the innocence and divine love of Lord Krishna.

After the celebration of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Bal Gopal Shri Krishna’s sixth day is celebrated as chhati Mahotsav. Janmasthami festival is celebrated as Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s Janmotsav and Chhati Pujan is celebrated as Namkaran Utsav (Name Giving ceremony). In Bhagwan’s Chhati Ceremony devotees call their Bhagwan in different new names like Madhav, Laddu Gopal, Thakurji etc.

On the sixth day of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, he is dressed in yellow clothes and Makhan-mishri is offered as bhog. On this day only the child form of Bhagwan Shri Krishna is worshipped.