Janmashtami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, who is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu on earth. On this day, devotees worship Lord Krishna and remember his Leelas. The birth of Lord Krishna symbolizes the victory of good over evil. On the day of Krishna Janmashtami, devotees of Lord Krishna offer prayers, and various rituals inspired by the life of Bal Krishna are organized across the country. This holy day is celebrated in different parts of India according to a variety of local traditions and rituals. Lord Krishna was born 5,000 years ago in the city of Mathura to King Vasudev and Queen Devaki. Krishna's birth is an important event as it symbolizes the victory of good over evil. He came to this world to destroy the evil king Kansa.
Lord Krishna's childhood is filled with amazing stories that teach us important lessons. He was a mischievous child, often known for his love for butter, which earned him the nickname "Makhan Chor". But behind this playful nature was a divine being who performed many miracles and showed extraordinary wisdom even as a child.
This year i.e. in 2024, Janmashtami will be celebrated on August 26. You can check here the dates of Janmashtami celebrations till the coming 2030-
- 2024 Monday, August 26
- 2025 Friday, August 15
- 2026 Friday, September 4
- 2027 Wednesday, August 25
- 2028 Sunday, August 13
- 2029 Saturday, September 1
- 2030 Wednesday, August 21
People across the country who celebrate Shri Krishna Jayanti observe fast on this day till midnight, the time of Lord Krishna's birth. To symbolise his birth, the idol of the deity is placed in a small cradle and prayers are offered. Bhajans and the Bhagavad Gita are recited on this day.
'Janma' means birth and 'Ashtami' means eighth. Lord Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in which he was born on the eighth tithi as the eighth son of Vasudeva and Yashoda.
According to mythology, Krishna was the eighth child of Princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, who belonged to the Yadava clan of Mathura. Devaki's brother Kansa, who was the king of Mathura at the time, killed all the children born to Devaki, so that he could escape the prophecy that stated that Kansa would be killed by Devaki's eighth son. When Krishna was born, Vasudeva took the infant Krishna to his friend's house in Gokul, a district of Mathura. Thereafter, Krishna was raised by Nanda and his wife Yashoda in Gokul.
Janmashtami Puja Vidhi:
Morning Bath: Devotees take a bath in the morning to purify themselves and take a vow to fast.
Temple Decoration: The temple or place of worship of Lord Krishna is decorated with flowers, rangoli and lamps. The idol of Lord Krishna is dressed in new clothes, ornaments and garlands.
Worship Material: Special materials like Panchamrit, fruits, flowers, Tulsi leaves, butter and sugar candy etc. are prepared for worship.
Kalash Sthapana: The Kalash is established at the place of worship and it is worshiped by placing mango leaves and coconut in it.
Abhishek of Lord Krishna: The idol of Lord Krishna is anointed with milk, curd, ghee, honey and Ganga water.
Katha and Bhajan: The birth story of Lord Krishna is narrated and his bhajans and kirtans are sung.
Midnight Puja: Since Lord Krishna was born at midnight, special worship and aarti are performed at 12 o'clock at night.
Prasad Distribution: After the worship, prasad is distributed among the devotees. Butter and sugar candy are distributed as prasad as Lord Krishna's favourite food.
Breaking of the fast: The next day devotees break the fast and organize a community feast.
Leelas of Lord Krishna:
Bal Leelas: The leelas performed by Lord Krishna in his childhood, such as stealing butter, Raasleela with the gopis, killing Kaliya Nag, lifting Govardhan mountain, etc., are very famous.
Raasleela: Lord Krishna's Raasleela with the gopis displays his sense of love and devotion. This leela symbolizes the loving nature of the Lord.
Krishna-Arjuna Samvad: The knowledge given by Shri Krishna to Arjun in the Mahabharata, which is compiled in the form of 'Bhagavad Gita', is a very important leela. It preaches the fundamental principles of life and the path of dharma.
Teachings of Lord Krishna:
Karmayoga: Lord Krishna preached Karmayoga in the Gita, which talks about performing one's duties without the desire for any fruit.
Bhakti Yoga: Krishna considers devotion as supreme and shows the path to connect with God through love.
Knowledge of Dharma and Adharma: Shri Krishna clarified the difference between Dharma and Adharma and inspired to always follow the path of Dharma.
Sarvadharma Sambhaav: Krishna talked about giving equal recognition to all religions and said that all paths ultimately lead to the same God.
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