The Janamashtami Festival
24 Aug, 2008
This festival is held all over india. |
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The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon. Krishna is perceived by most Hindus to be an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, who is regarded as the highest avatar. It is believed that all other deities are manifestations of him. Krishna is considered to be a warrior, hero, teacher and philosopher by Hindus.
Krishna's birthday is celebrated eight days after Raksha Bandhan in the month of Sravana and celebrations are spread over two days.
According To Hindu Mythology
Hindu mythology presents a fascinating chain of events that were to unfold around the time of Krishna’s birth.
Krishna's parents Deviki and Vasudev were thrown into prison by his maternal uncle Kans – the tyrant King of Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), as it had been prophesied by Naradmuni that Kans would be annihilated by the eighth child born of his cousin sister Deviki. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Kans killed each of the seven children immediately after their birth in prison. Finally the eighth child was born – a beautiful dark baby boy. Legend has it that miraculously all the guards of the prison fell into deep sleep, the prison gates opened, and Deviki and Vasudev became unfettered. An akashvani or heavenly voice ordained Vasudev to take his newborn son, destined to rid the world of evil, to his friend Nand and his wife Yashoda in Gokul, a city that lay across the River Yamuna. Fearing for the life of his son, Vasudev readied himself for a journey wrought with perils. Yamuna in spate parted its waters to make way for the father and son as soon as infant Krishna touched the swelling waters with his tiny foot, and the Shaeshnag (the many-headed serpent king) emerged from the deluge to shield the two from the tumultuous downpour.
Across the Yamuna, Yashoda had recently given birth to a daughter who was sleeping soundly besides her parents. Vasudev quietly left his son besides the sleeping and unsuspecting Nand and Yashoda, and returned to his wife in Mathura with Nand and Yashoda's daughter.
This tale is fondly remembered on the day of Janmashtami as temples and homes light up for the joyous occasion. Especially cities like Mumbai, Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan come alive during the festival. Cribs and other displays with dolls in traditional costumes depict the life and times of Krishna. Raas Leelas (dance dramas) enact incidents from Krishna’s life amidst much pomp and show. People fast till midnight, the time of Krishna’s birth. Elaborate pujas or prayer ceremonies are held in temples and homes to welcome the lord at midnight amongst joyous singing of hymns. Prasad (sweetmeat offered to the lord and later eaten by devotees) is distributed to everyone. The lord having arrived, it is time for everyone to settle down to a hearty vegetarian meal. |
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