Janmashtami: The Hindu Festival

Janmashtami, Hindu festival celebrating the birth (janma) of the god Krishna on the eighth (ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September). The festival of Janmashtami was celebrated enthusiastically at various temples of Mathura on Monday. Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. It is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. Krishna is Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi's son and his birthday is celebrated by Hindus as Janmashtami, particularly those of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition as he is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Janmashtami is celebrated when Krishna is believed to have been born according to Hindu tradition, which is in Mathura, at midnight on the eighth day of Bhadrapada month (overlaps with August and 3 September in the Gregorian calendar).

The Ashtami date of Krishna Paksha is the date for celebrating Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is considered to be the most powerful of all the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami with pomp and glory. Let us speak a bit about Lord Krishna. Since Lord Krishna was born at night, people celebrate Janmashtami at midnight. People follow a special means of celebrating Janmashtami. Since Lord Krishna loved to eat Makhan, people played sports with Makhan. They put the makhan in an earthen pot called a matki. The judge ties the makhan-filled matki very high above the ground. People play this game in groups.

By: Anirudha Sharma
Government Senior Secondary School, Bopara