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Janmashthami: (August/September)
Janmashthami
takes place on the eighth
day of the waning moon, in the month of Shravan, in August /
September.
Krishna
is believed to have been born at midnight
in Mathura, and hence celebrations begin at this hour. Lord
Vishnu is invoked in his human incarnation as Krishna on his birth
anniversary in the festival of Janmashthami. The temples of
Vrindavan,
where Krishna grew up as a child,.
(His kingdom was Dwarka, and his residence
in Bhet Dwarka) witness an extravagant and colourful celebration on
this occasion. Raslila is performed to recreate incidents from the
life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. The image
of the infant Krishna is bathed at midnight and
is
placed in a cradle, amidst the blowing of conch shells and the
ringing of bells.
The
place of pride in the jhanki is an idol of baby Krishna. This is
placed on a cradle, which is rocked to recreate scenes from
Krishna's infancy.
Devotional
songs and dances mark the celebration of this festive occasion all
over Northern India.
In
Maharashtra, Janmashthami witnesses the exuberant enactment of the
god's childhood attempts to steal butter and curd from earthen
pots beyond his reach. A matka or earthern pot
containing
these is suspended high above the ground and groups of young men
and children form human pyramids to try and reach the pot and
eventually break it.
The
state of Gujarat is the abode of Lord Krishna, his own land. The
town of Dwarka comes alive, with major celebrations and hordes of
visitors.
No
other God in the Hindu pantheon, or for that matter in any other
religion,is woven with the romantic tales that Lord Krishna does.
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