Janmashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami is an annual Festival that is celebrated not only in India but by Hindus across the globe, to commemorate the birth of their deity, Lord Krishna who according to Hindu faith is the eight Avatar of Vishnu, one of the Gods of the Holy trinity of Hinduism.
Krishna, the 8th son of Princess Devaki and Vasudeva was from Mathura city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. ISKCON and Birla temple are two temples in Delhi where this festival is celebrated with great zeal and fervour. Devotees come in great numbers to the temples where the images and idols of lord Krishna are kept in cradles to depict his birth. The number of devotees swells as the time of the birth of Lord Krishna approaches. On this day devotees celebrate the birth of Krishna by fasting and singing devotional songs until the time of the birth of the deity, which is at midnight. To control the rush of devotees, a group of volunteers continuously manages the crowds. Different shows are staged in which young children play the roles of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha.
The festival is celebrated in other parts of the country with the breaking of the Dahi Handi. In this, a clay pot is filled with buttermilk and is tied at a height, far out of reach of a single man. To reach this Handi or clay pot, young men also known as Govindas, form a human pyramid and the person on the top of the pyramid breaks the Handi with a blunt object and ultimately the buttermilk spills over. The Govindas travel in groups and try to break as many Dahi Handis as they can, cheered along by all the onlookers. The Dahi Handi is reminiscent of Lord Krishna's childhood when he used to be fond of butter to such an extent that his mother had to hide it out of his reach and he had to climb on the shoulders of his friends in order to steal it.
Janmashtami has huge spiritual importance among all those who practice the Hindu faith. This is a colorful festival. The euphoria and energy of the devotees is palpable. It is believed that the birth of Lord Krishna eradicates all the evils and darkness of the earth and it is celebrated to encourage the good and destroy the evil on the earth.
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