Janmashtami

When did the Janmashtami start?

About Janmashtami Festival

Janmashtami is an important Hindu festival celebrating the birth of the Hindu god Lord Krishna. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight) of the month of Shravana, in the Hindu calendar, which usually falls at the end of July or August. It is one of the most revered festivals in the Hindu culture and is celebrated with many customs and rituals. Janmashtami marks the divine appearance of Lord Krishna and commemorates his life and teachings. People engaging in religious activities and attend special puja, or prayers, at home and even in temples. Devotees often fast and stay awake all night, singing devotional songs and performing special pooja for the lord.

The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated in a variety of different ways by different communities. In some parts of India, the festival is celebrated with traditional pujas and processions by the devotees carrying clay idols of infant Krishna. Music and dance forms are performed, such as the traditional raas-leela, a dance-drama re-enactment of Krishna's life and times and the Maha Abhishekam, a sacred bath ritual of the deity's image. Other places celebrate the festival by offering sweets to the god, decorating temples and homes, purifying and beautifying them to make them ready for the celebration.

Janmashtami Holiday – Introduction

Janmashtami is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular and beloved incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. It is generally observed on the 8th day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, which usually falls in late August or early September. Janmashtami is celebrated in various parts of the world, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Fiji, among others. Each region has its own unique way of celebrating the holiday.

History of Janmashtami

The exact origins of Janmashtami have been lost to history, but it is believed to be several thousands of years old. According to Hindu texts, Lord Krishna was born on the 8th day of the dark half of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August/September). This day is celebrated as Janmashtami, which literally translates as “Eight-day festival.”

The earliest known celebrations of Janmashtami date back to the 5th century CE in the southern India that is now Tamil Nadu. During this time, Hindu stories were regularly performed in temples and during festivals, and Janmashtami was no exception. In the centuries following, Janmashtami celebrations spread across India and eventually to other parts of the world.

Celebrations in India

India is one of the most important places of Janmashtami celebration. The festival is celebrated in temples and households alike with great enthusiasm. Temples usually organize discourses that focus on the stories of Lord Krishna as well as special musical performances. Households typically include prayer rituals, fasting, Jagannath puja, and other activities.

The night before Janmashtami is particularly special. Many temples organize special ceremonies on this night, which often includes singing devotional songs and performing plays and dances that tell the stories of Lord Krishna’s life. Some temples also hold special “dahi-handi” competitions, where participants try to break open a pot of butter suspended high above the crowd.

Janmashtami is also a time for feasting. In northern India, the traditional meal on this day includes a variety of yummy sweets such as kheer, rasmalai, pedas, and halwa.

Celebrations in Nepal

Nepal celebrates Janmashtami with some unique customs and traditions. On this day, Hindus flock to temples to offer special prayers to the Lord Krishna and to receive blessings from him. The temples are decorated beautifully and spiritual discourses are held.

In the days leading up to Janmashtami, devotees observe a fast and are not supposed to consume any kind of grain for a period of one day or more. On Janmashtami, they break their fast with makkhan, a type of homemade butter, which is offered to Lord Krishna. The night before Janmashtami is marked by a special puja, where devotees recite devotional mantras and songs.

Nepalis also conduct a special “batu” ceremony on this day. In this ceremony, devotees make an effigy of Lord Krishna using flowers, leaves, and other items from nature. The effigy is placed in a procession and taken to the temple, where it is placed next to the image of Lord Krishna. This is a symbolic gesture to show that the Lord has accepted the devotees’ offerings.

Celebrations in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka celebrates Janmashtami in a big way. This is the most important festival in the Hindu calendar in the country, and it is celebrated by both Hindus and non-Hindus alike. On this day, temples and homes are decorated and special poojas are performed in honour of Lord Krishna.

On Janmashtami, Sri Lankans observe a one-day fast and perform worship rituals in temples and homes with great devotion. People usually dress up in traditional clothes and gather in temples in the evening to perform the poojas. Following the poojas, devotees sing devotional songs and perform traditional dances like Thillai and Magam.

At night, there is a special ritual known as “Golu” where dolls of various shapes and sizes are placed in a special area and offered to Lord Krishna. People typically offer garlands, flowers, fruits, and other offerings to the dolls. Following this, special songs are sung to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.

Celebrations in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, Janmashtami is a very important festival that is celebrated widely with enthusiasm and devotion. On this day, people dress up in traditional clothes and visit temples to offer prayers to the Lord.

Temples in Bangladesh organize special religious discourses and plays that tell the stories of Lord Krishna’s life. Visitors can watch these performances and gain spiritual insights.

People also observe a fast on this day and prepare special dishes to offer to Lord Krishna. The traditional meal usually consists of sweets such as pedas, laddus, and rasgullas, as well as savoury snacks like pani-puri.

In the evening, devotees gather in temples to perform puja rituals and offer flowers and fruit to the Lord. A special type of folk dance called the Rabindra Nritya is also performed to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.

Celebrations in Pakistan

Janmashtami is celebrated in Pakistan with enthusiasm, though in a more subdued form than in India and other South Asian countries. People typically fast on this day and visit temples to offer prayers to the Lord Krishna. The temples are often decorated with lights and flowers.

In the evening, devotees gather to participate in special rituals such as bathing the Lord Krishna’s idol with milk and other holy liquids, followed by the offering of flowers and fruits. At night, religious discourses and plays are organized in temples where people can hear stories of Lord Krishna.

Celebrations in Fiji

Fiji has a long and rich Hindu tradition, and Janmashtami is celebrated widely with enthusiasm. On this day, temples are decorated with colorful lights and flowers. Devotees observe a strict fast throughout the day and offer special poojas to Lord Krishna.

In the evening, people gather to perform special rituals and dances. The festive mood is enhanced by the singing of devotional songs. In the days leading up to Janmashtami, ashrams and temples organize special discourses on the life of Lord Krishna.

In recent years, many other Hindu festivals, such as Diwali and Holi, are celebrated in Fiji along with Janmashtami. This adds to the festive atmosphere of the day.

Conclusion

Janmashtami is celebrated in various parts of the world, each with its own set of traditions and customs. It is a day of joy and happiness, and a time for devotees to reconnect with the Lord and seek his blessings.

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