New Delhi: Devotees, chanting Hare Krishna,
thronged decked-up temples as Janmashtami, marking the birth
of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across
the country on Monday.
Amid blowing of conch shells and chants of vedic hymns,
worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples
which wore a festive look.
In Mumbai, youngsters went around the city in processions
and broke `dahi handi` (pot filled with butter or curd and
tied to a rope as high as 40-ft).
The faithful formed pyramids at various places to reach
the handi as those gathered attempted to thwart their efforts
by splashing water on them.
Devotees observed day-long fasts as special delicacies
for the occasion remained an attraction.
Amid tight security, over ten lakh pilgrims paid
obeisance at temples in Mathura where the deity is believed
to have been born.
"The celebrations started this morning after bathing
Krishna ji with water from the Yamuna. A special Abhishek
(bathing the deity) was performed amid chanting of Vedic
hymns, beating of drums and playing of musical instruments,"
said Dinesh Chandra Goswami, a priest at the Radha Raman
temple.
Janmashtami was also celebrated in temples of nearby
towns of Vrindavan, Baldeo and Goverdhan.
In Jammu and Kashmir, long-winding queues were seen
outside lit-up temples as fervour marked the festivities.
Raghunath rath yatras, some with tableaux depicting
various aspects of the life of Lord Krishna, were also taken
out in various parts of Jammu in which hundreds participated.
PTI
