JANAMASTAMI
We
believe the supreme lord was born on this day on earth as
Vishnu's incarnation Krishna, to save us from the
evil - Demon "Kansa"
and to give security
to the suffering humanity.
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Lord
Krishna is the creator and is highest authority of knowledge in the Hindu
religion. The birthday of Krishna falls on the Astami
of Krishna Paksh
(the eighth day of the dark fortnight) in the month of Bhado
(July-August), eight days after Raksha
Bandhan. The exact date of Krishna's
birthday has not been determined but is conjectured to be around 1400 B.C. Lord
Krishna was born at midnight, in the prison of Kansa, during the middle of a
perilous rain and storm. Thus goes the story
of Krishna's birth.
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Baby Krishna eating Makhan
(Butter) |
On this auspicious day of Janmashtami a small
idol of child Krishna is placed in a cradle and everyone swings the cradle to
the tune of songs in the temple or at home. Exactly at midnight, Krishna's birth
is celebrated with ringing of bells and blowing of conch shells. The whole
atmosphere becomes full of joy and exultation. . Then "Naivedya"
is
offered a of a mixture of puffed rice, milk , curds and sugar and distributed as
"prasad".
Many women observe fast for the whole day
and take food only after Krishna's birth. In temples
"Bhajans"
-
recitation of devotional songs and
"Kirtans"
- religious discourses -
start early in the evening and continue till midnight - the hour of the Lord's
birth. Singing and music continue throughout the night.
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The day is also celebrated as
"Gopal-Kala" or
"Dahi-Kala". Krishna loved milk products and would steal butter & curds
from the earthen pots hanged high in the houses. Hence in this Dahi-Kala his
childhood pranks of stealing are re-created by youngsters who call themselves
"Govindas" and "Gopalas" and move about in streets. Earthen
pots filled with milk curds, and rice flakes along with silver coins are hung up
very high in streets and boys climbing upon each other form themselves into a
pyramid to reach up to the pot and break it with shouts of joy. The coins are
equally distributed. The superstition exists that if the broken pieces of the
pot is kept in house mice do not enter and damage things. |
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Lord Krishna Playing Flute |
