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Rejoicing Janmashtami

Mach gaya shor saari nagari re, saari nagari re, Aaya biraj ka baankan sambhaal teri gagari re… You guessed it right; yes I am talking about Janmashtami.

Shruti Saxena
Mach gaya shor saari nagari re, saari nagari re, Aaya biraj ka baankan sambhaal teri gagari re… You guessed it right; yes I am talking about Janmashtami. Janmashtami is celebrated all over India and across many other countries to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, the eight avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. The festival falls in the month of August/ September on the ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the eighth day in the month of Bhadon, according to the Hindu calendar. Lord Krishna`s devotees celebrate this blessed day – also popularly known as Gokulashtami, Krishnashtami and Srijayanti – with great joy and enthusiasm. I still remember my childhood days when I used to get up early on Janmashtami and begin preparing for the festival along with my mother. Janmashtami for me meant an environment full of happiness and joy with lots of fun-filled activities, divine songs, singing and dancing in praise of Lord Krishna. This blessed festival, which marks the birth of the `Makhan Chor` (Lord Krishna), is not just celebrated in Mathura – His birthplace – but the euphoria pervades all over India, including states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. In northern India, it is very common to observe jhulas (swings) hanging in the courtyards of temples and houses in the honour of the Lord. Colourful Rasleelas (plays) are a major attraction which depict various phases and acts of Lord Krishna`s life. Apart from this, decorated Jhankis too attract large crowds. These depict Lord Krishna`s childhood days like his birth in the jail, Vasudeva (Lord Krishna`s father) taking baby Krishna across river Yamuna, killing of his uncle Kansa etc. But my favourite event is the Dahi Handi ceremony which is mainly witnessed in Maharashtra. As part of the ceremony, participants form a human pyramid to break the mataki (dahi handi) suspended from the top with a rope. In southern India also, Janmashtami is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm. In Tamil Nadu, sweets like murukku and seeddai are prepared specially for the day. Eatables made of milk and curd are also offered to the Lord. On this auspicious day several people observe a day-long fast. Since we all know that our `Natkhat Nand Kishor` (Lord Krishna) is very fond of sweets, especially milk and milk products like butter and buttermilk; so his devotees prepare sweets like pedha, kheer and shreekhand to mark the occasion. Panchamrit is another special dish which is prepared on this day. Close to midnight, the celebration reaches its peak with devotees singing and enchanting shlokas, hymns, blowing the conch (shankh) and rocking the cradle of Lord Krishna. Finally, when the clock strikes 12:00, the idol of Lord Krishna is bathed with Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and gangajal). Later, this Panchamrit is distributed as Prasad among the devotees. Overall, it is great fun and feels like one is actually rejoicing the arrival of the Lord. Haathi ghodha paalki, jai Kanhaiya laal ki!