Story of Krishna Janmashtami in English for Kids

The Hindu festival of Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. He was the eighth incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is one of the most important festivals celebrated in India as a public holiday. On this day, people worship idols of little Krishna, sing bhajans, observe fast, and decorate their homes. They also dress up their small children as little Krishna and Radha for different competitions in school. In 2024, Krishna Janmashtami will be observed on 26 August, providing the perfect opportunity to teach your children about the significance of this festival in Indian culture. In this blog, you will read all about the story of Krishna Janmashtami in English, its cultural significance, and how it is celebrated in India. 

Story of Krishna Janmashtami

tOnce upon a time, there was a kingdom called Mathura. There lived a king named Kansa, known for his cruelty. He loved power more than anything. One day, a divine prophecy told him that the eighth child of Devaki, his sister, would bring destruction and end his life. The infant will also take away his throne and power. 

This prophecy worried Kansa and made him upset about his future. To save himself from doom, Kansa locked Devaki and her husband Vasudeva in prison. He was ready to do anything to save himself and his empire.  

One by one, Kansa killed six children of Devaki and Vasudeva. When Devaki got pregnant with the seventh child, divine intervention started happening. The seventh child of Devaki was transferred from her womb to the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva’s first wife. In this way, the seventh child was born away from the prison shackles, in safe hands. 

The story of Krishna Janmashtami began when Devaki was pregnant with the eighth child. Vishnu appeared in front of Vasudeva and Devaki. He told his devotee that the eighth child will be one of his incarnations. Lord Vishnu also instructed Vasudev with a plan to keep the infant safe until he was ready to fulfil his destiny. 

After some days, the magical midnight of Lord Krishna’s birth finally came. Devaki gave birth to a baby boy. He had beautiful eyes that sparkled like the full moon. When Devaki gave birth to the eighth child, Vasudeva carefully placed the infant in a basket as it was time to do exactly as he was told. He knew things would be difficult but he was determined.

Suddenly, all the prison guards fell into a deep sleep. The prison gates automatically swung open and heavy rains poured down. It was as if the entire world was helping Vasudeva in fulfilling the prophecy. As the water levels of the Yamuna River rose, adi-sesha, the thousand-headed serpent of Lord Vishnu raised his hood to protect the baby from rain. Similarly, the river also made way for Vasudeva to safely reach Gokul and come back to the prison.

Upon reaching Gokul, Vasudeva exchanged his baby with Yogmay. She was the newborn baby girl of Nanda, Gokul’s head, and his wife Yashoda. However, Yogmaya was not any ordinary bay. She had something divine planned for her destiny. She was actually the goddess Durga who was there to help Vasudeva in keeping little Krishna safe.

When Kansa came to know about the birth of the eighth child, he threw her against a well. Suddenly, something happened and Kansa was shocked. As he threw her, the baby transformed into the goddess. He realised that he was in the presence of something divine. Goddess Durga suddenly emerged and told Kansa that the child who was destined to take his throne had been already born. 

And in this way, Krishna was brought up in Gokul. Every year people celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna on Janmashtam. They sing bhajans and praises in the name of Lord Krishna who brought love, laughter, and wisdom on earth. Moreover, they also tell the younger generation about the story of Krishna’s birth, Vasudeva exchanging Krishna with baby Yogmaya and the divine intervention of Goddess Durga. 

The moral of this story includes the unstoppable power of the divine forces. It teaches us about the victory of good over evil, no matter who the person is. The story also inspires us to walk on the right path of devotion and compassion.  

Also Read: Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes in English for 2024

How is Janmashtami Celebrated in India

Given the significance of Krishna Janmashtami in India, the festival is celebrated across the country in different ways. Here is a glimpse of what all you can expect if you have never celebrated this festival before: 

• Prominent temples like Iskon in Delhi, Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, and the Jagannath temple in Odisha are decorated to organize grand celebrations. 
• In Mathura and Vrindavan, people observe a fast called Ratri Jagran (night vigil) in which they also sing devotional songs.
• Many people perform dance dramas, known as Rasa Leela, to enact Krishna’s life and events. 
• In South India, people use rice batter to draw beautiful kolams and decorate their floors. 
• Many people dress up their children as little Krishna, Radha, and Gopis. 
• Priests in temples organize communal recitation of Bhagavatham and Bhagavad Gita to teach people valuable lessons. 
• People set up dahi handis which involve filling a clay pot (handi) with curd, butter, and milk. Next, people form groups to make human pyramids and young boys climb it to reach the handi and break it using a stone. 

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