Krishna/Kanha the supremo of all, here is a glimpse of his life and all the other happening activities performed by this divine deity he is showcased in shyam varna/dark hue or sometimes depicted as dark blue adored in peacock feathers in his crown or on his hairy mane, with his favorite instrument the bansuri (flute), in many other dynasties different rock carved idols are noticed even in Natraj dance form but whatever it may be his flamboyant aura is as charming as it was then and his mesmerizing naughty smiling eyes ready to play some mischief as he did with the gopis of Gokul and his beloved Radha, then later Meera, Rukmani in the forth coming years but he is ever in the the hearts of young or old does not matter.
Krishna Janmashtami or Janmashtami festival means the birth of the Hindu god Krishna, which is celebrated annually on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha. It is celebrated all over India especially Vrindavan, Mathura. The Rasa lila, the flirtatious enactments of the life of Krishna’s youthful days, is a feature event all over the country. Next day Nandotsav festival is also celebrated, where Nanda Baba distributing gifts in joyous celebration of the Krishna’s birth. On this day, people break their fast and eat food & sweets.
This festival also signifies the age old win of good over the bad, to start with there was demon king named Kansa, he was in human form before who was very ardent follower of God Vishnu but due to his accquired power he transformed into a very arrogant proud off King and started practising all but malpractices as he was also misguided by his two court members, the Banasura and Chanur amongst and tried to even defeat the King of Mathura, his own father King Ugarasena, he defeated him and captured the throne of Mathura, but due to his wicked nature he had divine prophecy by Yogmaya, the seventh child of Devaki and VASUDEV ( helper of lord Vishnu) that he will be killed by the progeny of his sister, to prove it wrong he started killing the new born children one after the other but as per the divine prophecy the eigth child was born and ordered by lord Vishnu that he should be transported from Mathura to Gokul to be taken care by Nanda Baba & Yashoda where he grew amidst his friends and his elder brother Balrama a healthy playfull life full of bliss, he is also marked by the playful acts with Balrama, his elder brother lovingly called as bal dau (elder brother) and other rustic cowherds boys of Gokul where many small and big epics took place including the killing of Sheshnaga, Kanha was even very famous amidst the Gopis commonly known as the girls of Gokul playing and enacting all naughty flirtatious acts with them, out of them a prominent figurine being the Radha Rani with whom krishna had a very romantic loving instances and it has been even found that Radha Rani used to get mesimerized whenever Krishna used to blow mystical tunes on his flute and ultimately Krishna became the reason of Kansa death thus proving again that good dominates the evil.
Shri krishna is supposedly born on 18th of july 3228 BCE and lived untill 18th Feb 3102 BCE. KRISHNA is believed to set up his kingdom in Dwarka present in Gujrat, belonged to Vrishi clan of the Yadavas.
How It is Celebrated in India
Hindus celebrate Krishna Janmashtami by fasting on this day and staying up until midnight, as it is believed the time when Krishna was born. The remarkable act that is very significant on this day same holy rituals are observed as if when a real child is born and to magnify the extent of it even colourfull decorated jhulas (swings or craddle) along with perky jhankis (scapes) are also created to overpower the atmosphere and it is believed that Kanha was born at midnight sharp at 12 thus regarding this belief little idol or statue of Kanha is placed in the craddle decorated with all the flowers and stuff then devotees one by one pull the string attached to the craddle so as to swing it then, as normal newborns are given a shower in the similar way Kanha is bathed with all auspicious ingredients like dugdh (Milk) that too of a cows milk, ghee (clarified butter) and five more auspicious ingredients and then that concoction is collected and distributed in devotees as charanamrit (the heavenly drink collected after washing the feet of the god), in other edible offerings cucumber plays a very crucial role an important ingredient in prashad (edible gods offering), panjiri (one more quint essential ofering or prasad), this is made by shallow roasting whole wheats flour with grinded dhania (coriander seeds), dry fruits powdered along with a dust of peanut or groundnut a must for this occasion accompanied by other sweets and fruits but panjiri and charnamrit are regarded as the great favorites of kanha’s platter, followed by a extravagant portion of butter, ghee, curd milk and other milk products to signify this many of us must have observed tiny idols of Kanha licking a fistful of butter or its clarified form the ghee its one of his favorites along with all this savouries the festivity continues in its maximum grandeur. It is also noticed significantly that it rains during midnight dignifying the birth of lord Krishna in the form of Balgopal which makes it apparently more real.
Maharashtra
Janmaashtami is celebrated in Maharashtra as Dahi Handi, which is celebrated as an event which involves making a human tower or pyramid and competitions are held in between clubs and groups so as to who will make the tallest of human tower and reach the handi or the pot filled with buttermilk thus winning the alloted amount of money announced by each group as prize money.
Vrindavan and Mathura
Krishna’s childhood & birth place, Vrindavan & Mathura, attract devotees from all over the country & world to visit the place on this auspicious day, participate & celebrate this great festival. Nandotsav festival is also one of the special event here along with Rasa lila by singing songs or bhajans in praise of Gopal, the childhood name of lord Krishna and dancing in a particular swinging move by raisng both the arms and high swinginging movement from one side to other takes place eyes closed just enriching and enjoying those vibes of the lyrics of bhajans with constant playing of mridanga (a drum like musical instrument with manjireys which is a metallic musical instrument banged together holding them tight), the aura is very vivacious and exhillirating then. In other North Eastern States, the bhajans and other religious activities takes over the place into a high energy state with all enchanting hymns, vibrating sounds of dhol, mridnga takes over.
Gujarat
Lord Krishna have established his Kingdom in Dwarka which is in Gujarat. Devotees all over the world visit Dwarkadhish temple, participate & celebrate the festival.
Jammu
In Jammu, people celebrates by flying kite on his day.
Odisha and West Bengal
In Odisha & West Bengal, devotees celebrates Krishna Janmashtami by fasting, staying up and worship until midnight. The next day they celebrate Nandotsav.In West Bengal a place called MAYAPUR has its own significance on this day as there ISCON community all but devotees of lord Krishna predominates along with the localites, the atmosphere here also gains maximum momentum with high electrified energy levels. Nabadip also very famous during this festivity.
South India
Krishna Janmashtami known here as Gokulashtami or Gokul Ashtami. In Tamil Nadu, the people decorate the floor with decorative pattern drawn with rice batter known as kolams. Mouth watering delicacies like seedai, sweet seedai, verkadalai, urundai are made thus it is celebrated with much pomp and great fervour.
Assam
In Assam its celebrated with Numghars and savoury delicacies are also prepared.
Others
Nationally and Internationally all around the globe, the muslim hindus in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan also celebrate this festival. In Pakistan Hindus celebrate this at Swaminarayan Mandir which is in Karachi, in Bangladesh, Dhakeshwari Temple at Dhaka. In Nepal people celebrate it and hymns are sung in great chores at Patan Durbar Square. The governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, first elected representative proclaimed officially to celebrate Janmashtami, great intrest is taken by the people of Hindu origin in Caribbean islands, Guinea, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and other countries, the immigirants are from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa to name a few, thus its celebrated globally with the same positive vibes and energy.
Henceforth Glucose Club is mentoring to nurture the facts and fictions of any religion and its celebrations regarding it and to adhere to them and be proud of the rituals and customs but don’t just follow anything blindfoldedly but to excavate the facts and then convincingly follow them and hand it over to the next oncoming progeny and teach them to respect it and proud of it.