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The Hindu festival of Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, 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. 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.
History of Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura. His birth coincided with the eighth day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. A heavenly voice warned Kansa, Krishna’s maternal uncle, that Devaki’s eighth child would bring his demise.
To save himself from doom, Kansa killed all the children of Vasudeva and Devaki. When Krishna was finally born, Lord Vishnu appeared to Vasudeva and instructed him to take the newborn baby to Gokula and swap him with his friend Nanda’s daughter.
Soon after Vasudeva started completing the divine instructions, all prison guards fell into a deep sleep. His shackles fell apart and heavy rains poured down. 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.
When Kansa realised that Yashoda’s eighth child was a girl, he seized the baby and killed her against a rock. The baby soon revealed herself as Goddess Yogamaya and told Kansa that his destroyer had been born somewhere else. Kansa sent demons to find and kill Krishna. But the lord, even in his infant form, killed everyone.
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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FAQs
We celebrate Janmashtami in honour of Lord Krishna’s birth on earth as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Janmashtami festival is majorly celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan. However, devotees celebrate it at home and in temples with utmost devotion in other Indian states as well.
Janmashtami is celebrated on Ashtami as Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada month. Additionally, the number eight has another significance as Krishna was the eighth child of Vasudeva and Devaki.
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