Lord Vishnu incarnated into many forms to protect the world from destruction. According to religious scriptures, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Krishna in dwapar yuga r to free the Earth from sins and sinners. Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudev at midnight in Rohini Nakshatra on Ashtami of Krishna Paksha during Bhadrapad month. Thus, this auspicious date is celebrated as Shri Krishna Janmashtami all over the country will full zeal and fervor. The life of Lord Krishna is an inspiration which guides us to various aspects of life and provides a path to salvation.
Janmashtami Festival
The temples are decorated with flowers, lights, colourful wings etc on the day of Krishna Janmashtami. People from all around the world visit Lord Krishna’s temples on Janmashtami to celebrate his birth date and offer their prayers. Bhandaras and jhanki are organized in special places, and people sing devotional songs and perform on them to celebrate the day.
Special kirtans and bhajans are organized in temples in the evening. Fasts are kept on this day and Lord Krishna is worshipped by singing holy songs and bhajans. Exhibitions of Lord Krishna’s lives are organized in temples. People take baths in hole rivers on the day of Janmashtami. Game of Dahi-Handi is also inevitable on this day. This festival is celebrated for two consecutive days. This festival is celebrated in a lot of different ways around the country
Significance of Fast on Janmashtami
According to scriptures, Janmashtami fasting has been considered an important part of the celebration. Janmashtami has been categorized in two forms, according to which one is known as Janmashtami and the other is Jayanti. As per the rituals described in skanda purana related to janmashtami fasting, it is said that the fast should only be observed during the day or night time when there rohini nakshatra is not present at all.
However, if Rohini nakshatra is present in the month of bhadrapad, then it is observed as jayanti.
According to Vashishtha Samhita, the fast can also be performed in ahoratra, when the yoga is formed with the combination of ashtami and rohini nakshatra.
According to skanda purana, a person fasting on this day attains salvation. This fast is believed to fulfill all kinds of desires. Also, according to Vishnu purana, a person fasting in the mid night of janmashtami in rohini nakshatra, gets relief from his sins.
Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini etc. As per the legend, the parents of Lord krishna were imprisoned at the time of his birth. As soon as he took birth, his father Vasudeva went out of the prison that night and left his son in his friend’s house – Nand and Yashoda.
Mohratri
The night of Sri Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Mohratri. An individual can attain the salvation by chanting the name of Yogeshwar Sri Krishna at this night. The virtues of a person are increased by observing this fast. Many delicious dishes are prepared on the day of Janmashtami. Milk and desserts made with milk are eaten on this day.
Lord Krishna loved milk and butter. That is why, sweet dishes like kheer, Pede, butter and mishri are made and eaten on this day. The fast of Janmashtami completes after the birth of lord Krishna by taking the Prasada
Dahi – Handi Festival
The houses and temples are decorated beautifully on the day of Janamashtmi. This festival is also known as Krishnashtmi or Gokulashtmi. The hymns of lord Krishna are sung on this day and Ras Lilas are organized. Along with this, the ceremony of Dahi-Handi is also organized in which curd and butter is kept in an earthen pot and is hanged at a height. This pot is meant to be broken. This arrangement is known as ceremony of Dahi-Handi and whoever breaks this pot and takes the things inside it is awarded with a prize. This ceremony takes place in Maharashtra on Janamasthmi. Various kinds of ceremonies and competitions are seen in Maharashtra on this day.
Importance of Janmashtami
Through his famous saying of Geeta, lord Krishna says that whenever any harm to religion happens, I will take birth or incarnate on this earth and establish religion by destroying the irreligious activities.
That is why, lord Vishnu takes birth in some or the other and destroy the evil whenever the terror of demons and devils is dominant. The incarnation of lord Krishna is most important among all the incarnations of lord Vishnu. The sacred day on which lord Krishna took birth is celebrated as Sri Krishna Janamashtmi.