New Delhi: In India, people celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, sometimes called Gokulashtami or just Janmashtami, with tremendous excitement, though state-by-state variations exist in the traditions and customs surrounding the joyous occasion. These are the various ways that Krishna Janmashtami is observed throughout India.
The yearly celebration of Krishna Janmashtami, sometimes called Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, honours the birth of Lord Krishna, Vishnu’s eighth avatar. On the eighth day, Ashtami, of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha), Bhadrapada Masa or Bhadrapada Masa is when people celebrate and commemorate the birth of Krishna.
Different parts of India celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in special ways. Let’s examine how India celebrates this festival.
How India celebrates Krishna Janmashtami?
For Hindus worldwide, Krishna Janmashtami is a very important day that is observed in various ways based on local and cultural traditions. Hindus observe fast, sing, pray, prepare and share special meals, and visit temples dedicated to Krishna or Vishnu to commemorate Janmashtami.
Devotees make pilgrimages to Mathura and Vrindavan. Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila are organised. The Mathura region, northeastern Indian regions like Manipur and Assam, and some areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat are especially known for their Rasa Lila heritage.
Several amateur performers perform it, and the drama-dance plays begin a few days before Janmashtami. People decorate their homes with flowers and lighting. On this day, people chant, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna—Krishna, Hare Hare.” The Janmashtami event is followed by the Dahi Handi festival the next day.
North India
Janmashtami is the largest festival in the Braj region of northern India, celebrated by Vaishnava communities in cities like Mathura and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. In the states of the north, the Ras Lila is performed, which involves solo or group dance and drama events, where Krishna-related compositions are sung. The teachings of Krishna are also recited.
Jammu and Kashmir
In Jammu, Janmashtami is known as “Thogre/Thakure da Vrat,” which means vrat and is dedicated to Thakur, i.e., Shri Krishna. Janmashtami marks the start of the kite-flying season in Jammu. On the other hand, girls and women adorn their palms with Teera, a local plant dye.
Another ritual in the region is “Deyaa Parna”, in which Dogras donate cereal grains in the names of their ancestors and Kuldevtas.
The Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Janmashtami as Zaram Satam (Janam Saptami). The festival is linked with observing a vrat throughout the day and visiting the Thokur Kuth (Krishna Mandir) around midnight. Puja is performed at night in temples, which includes giving an abhishek to Krishna’s murti and chanting bhajans.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, it is known as “Dahi Handi.” The story depicts how Krishna used to steal butter as a child. It represents the joyous innocence of children and the idea that love and life’s play are manifestations of God. Dahi Handi, which involves hanging a clay pot filled with buttermilk at a considerable height, is a popular festival activity for youth organisations. Multiple young groups compete to build a human pyramid and break it open to reach the pot. The spilled contents are considered Prasada.
Gujarat
In Dwarka, Gujarat, where Krishna is believed to have established his kingdom, the event is celebrated with Makhan Handi, a ritual similar to Dahi Handi. Others do folk dances like Garba and raas, sing bhajans, and visit Krishna temples like the Dwarkadhish Temple in Nathdwara. Farmers in the Kutch district decorate their bullock carts and participate in Krishna processions, including group singing and dancing.
South India
In Tamil Nadu, people celebrate Krishna Janmashtami by drawing intricate Kolam patterns with rice batter at their entrances and tiny footprints symbolising Krishna’s arrival. They recite the Bhagavad Gita, offer fruits, betel, and butter to Krishna, and prepare sweets like Seedai and Verkadalai Urundai.
In Karnataka, the festival features Raas Lila performances, known as Vittal Pindi, and the ritual of breaking the Dahi Handi. Children dress as Lord Krishna, while sweets like Chakodi, Murukku, and Seedai are prepared and offered to the deity.
In Kerala, Janmashtami is marked by attending rituals and pujas at temples, with special dishes like Palpaysam and Appam offered to Krishna. The Bhuloka Vaikunta temple in Guruvayur is the centre of celebrations.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Krishna Janmashtami is marked by shlokas and bhajans recitation. People observe a fast and prepare sweets like chakodi, murukku and seedai to offer to Lord Krishna. Joyful chanting occurs in some temples, though the number of temples dedicated to Krishna is limited, as many people prefer to worship him through paintings rather than idols.
East and Northeast India
In Eastern and Northeastern India, Janmashtami is celebrated widely by the Vaishnava communities.
In Assam and West Bengal, Sankardeva’s contributions include Borgeet (musical compositions) and dance-drama styles like Ankia Naat and Sattriya.
In Manipur, Raas Lila, a traditional dance depicting the love between Krishna, Radha and the gopis, is performed using the Manipuri dance style, with roots in the ancient Natya Shastra and cultural fusion between India and Southeast Asia.
The tenth chapter of the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita are recited.
In Odisha and West Bengal, Janmashtami is also known as Sri Krishna Jayanti or Sri Jayanti. Devotees fast and worship until midnight, with the Bhagavata Purana’s tenth chapter recited. The next day, called “Nanda Ucchhaba”, celebrates Krishna’s foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda.
In Odisha, the Jagannath Temple in Puri holds a Ratha Yatra during Janmashtami, which is similar to its famous annual festival.
Krishna Janmashtami has arrived, and people are enthusiastic about celebrating the day. In India, Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated differently in different parts of the country. Let us look at how Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated across India, from Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh to Manipur and West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and Kerala to Gujarat. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
