Janmashtami – Significance, Importance and rituals

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Janmashtami festival celebrated all over the world with great zeal and pleasure. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Krishna. Janmashtami is also known as Krishna Janmashtami and Gokulashtami in all India. People celebrate this amazing festival to get blessings of Lord Krishna and fulfil their life with peace and happiness.

Janmashtami falls on every year 8th day of the Krishna paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. We want to tell you why Krishna Janmashtami celebrated on 8th day, it is because Lord Krishna is the eighth children of Devaki maa.

Shri Krishna Jayanti Yoga

Krishna Janmashtami on Monday, August 26, 2024

Nishita Puja Time - 24:00 to 00:44, Aug 27

Duration - 00 Hours 45 Mins

Dahi Handi on Tuesday, August 27, 2024

 

Why Janmashtami is celebrated?

Many mythological stories are running behind the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami. Everyone has their own belief regarding this festival.

According to Hindu mythology, There was a king named Kansa who was cruelly ruling Mathura. Everyone was so disturbed and sad in his kingdom. Kansa wanted to extend his kingdom and for this, he married his sister Devaki with the Yadu king, Vasudeva. For gaining the trust of Vasudeva, Kansa organized a large function to celebrate their marriage.

During that time, a forecast has changed everyone’s life. The forecast was related to the death of the king by the eighth child of Devaki. After knowing this augury, Kansa sent his both sister and brother in law to prison. At first, Kansa wanted to kill Devaki for saving his life but Vasudev promised him that he will give all the eighth child’s head to kansa to save his wife.

Kansa killed every child of Devaki for six times. When Devaki got pregnant again for the 7th time, the seventh child of her transformed into the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva’s first wife. This way Devaki's seventh child Balram was born safely.

Devaki got pregnant again for the 8th time and that child was Krishna. Kansa was eagerly waiting for the 8th child of Devaki to kill him. We all know Krishna was the avatar of Lord Vishnu that’s why when Devaki was in labour pain, Lord Vishnu came into prison. He told Vasudeva that your child is the incarnation of me and he will finish all the Kansa bad deeds.

On the Janmashtami, the night was very dark with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Lord Vishnu helped Vasudeva by unlocking all the locks and putting guards into sleep. Vasudeva placed his child into a basket and put it on the head and crossed the Yamuna river for going to Village Gokul. He exchanged the baby with the yashodha’s newborn baby girl.

After this event, Lord Krishna started to grow up in Gokul with the enormous love and support of Yashodha and Nand.

Based on this story, on the night of Krishna Janmashtami, it always rains. People celebrate the birthday of Krishna with full positivity and cheerfulness.

 

Rituals of Janmashtami

  • As we all know Lord Krishna took birth at midnight so the actual celebration of Janmashtami starts at midnight.
  • People observe fast on this auspicious day after taking bathe and wearing clean clothes.
  • Every temple of Lord Krishna especially Mathura and Vrindavan decorated very beautifully for honouring Lord Krishna.
  • At the midnight, The idol of Krishna is bathed in water and milk and dressed in new clothes.
  • People prepare puja thali by putting akshat, roli, sweets, flowers and bhog in it.
  • Devotees do puja of Lord Krishna by offering bhog to him.
  • After puja rituals, sweets distributed as Prasad among everyone.
  • Everyone organized Dahi handi in which a pot with milk and butter hangs on the poles in the streets. One people has to break that Dahi handi after reaching it.
  • People celebrate this festival by dancing, singing and playing dramas. Everyone also eats Makhan on this auspicious because it is the favourite food of Lord Krishna.

 

Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami has great importance in everyone’s life. People receive blessings and happiness by celebrating this festival with great excitement and zest. Many types of functions are organized in every city for pleasing Lord Krishna on his birthday. Some people also keep fast and break it at the midnight by eating bhog offered on Lord Krishna. Krishna Janmashtami brings peace and joy in everyone’s life.

 

Happy Janmashtami!