New Delhi: The auspicious festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated this year on August 26, Monday. Also known as Gokulashtami, the day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna by devotees across the world.
Shri Krishna’s birthday: Importance of Janmashtami
Lord Krishna is worshipped as the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This day holds great significance for devotees of Lord Krishna as it marks the birth of Laddoo Gopal (Lord Krishna). There are many Krishna temples, especially in ISKCON celebrates Lord Krishna’s birthday The preparations for which start many days in advance.
The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated according to the Hindi lunisolar calendar. It is said that this day falls on the Ashtami (8th day) of Krishna Paksha in the Shravan month (Shravan/Sawan month) of the lunar Hindu calendar and Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapad of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which overlaps with August and September of the Gregorian calendar.
shri krishna janmashtami Ashtami is celebrated in many ways. In many places, devotees observe fast on Ashtami and break the fast only after midnight following the birth of the Lord. On this day hymns are sung, stories and legends of Krishna are heard, plays based on the life of the Lord are attended and other rituals are performed.
The legend behind Gokulashtami or Janmashtami
Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva To kill his cruel maternal uncle Kansa who imprisoned his sister and brother-in-law and killed their 7 children one by one out of fear of death. However, when the Lord is born, he too is deceived by divine intervention, Vasudeva takes Krishna away from Mathura by crossing the Yamuna river with the help of cosmic powers and leaves him in Gokul with foster parents-Yashoda and Nanda.
Vasudeva takes Krishna away Placing Lord Krishna in a basket, they make him cross the river amidst heavy rain and storm. It is believed that during that time, Sheshnag, the king of serpents, emerges from the Yamuna river and acts as a shield to protect Lord Krishna under his five-headed hood.
Once Lord Krishna reaches Gokul, Yashoda gives birth to a baby girl, who is believed to be a form of Goddess Durga. With the help of divine intervention, Krishna is safely placed in Gokul with the new parents and the baby girl is taken to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura.
Therefore Lord Krishna was brought up by Yashoda and Nand Baba.
Krishna Janmashtami is followed by Nandotsav, which commemorates the time when Nanda Baba distributed gifts and sweets in the neighbourhood to mark the birth of child Krishna.
Long live Shri Krishna!
