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| CelebrationsinWorld » Festivals of India » Janmashtami |
Janmashtami |
| The occasion of the birth celebrations of lord Krishna is popularly celebrated as the festival of Janmasthami throughout the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the most sacred festivals for the Hindus and celebrated with great pomp and joy. Janmansthami generally falls on the 8th day in the month of Bhadra according to the Hindu calendar. This day is characterized by the dark half according to the Lunar calendar.
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Lord Krishna is believed to be the 8th incarnation of lord Vishnu who came to the earth to relieve his subjects of all worries and preached the values of Karma and Dharma besides numerous others that have been compiled together in the form of the sacred Bhagvad Gita. To witness the celebrations of Janmasthami, a visit to the quaint town of Mathura, a few hundred kilometres from the national capital New Delhi becomes mandatory. Being the birthplace of Krishna, the entire town is adorned in a new look and the various surrounding places including Gokul, Vrindavan and others also celebrate the occasion in its highest magnitude.
The festivities of Janmasthami include the below mentioned elements, rituals and customs in nearly every Hindu home, although a few alterations may be noticed acroos the distinct regions of the country.
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- The temples of India are especially decorated with lights, flowers and rangoli (the traditional colour arrangement done in India) on the occasion of Janmasthami.
- Rasleelas and other folk theatres are arranged that narrate and enact stories related to the birth and various stages of lord Krishna’s life.
- Devotees fast on this day and visit temples to offer prayers to the lord.
- Devotional songs and hymns are sung in every home and the idols of lord Krishna are worshipped like never before.
- At midnight, when lord Krishna was believed to have been born, devotees break their fast with the ‘prashad’ that was offered to the deity. A variety of fruits, Kheer and other sweets are offered to the lord and people rejoice his birth thoroughly.
Throughout India, Janmasthami is a great celebration and in several parts it is also observed as a holiday. Wearing new clothes and visiting the temple premises on this day is also widely popular.
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