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Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna
is celebrated with great devotion in the August/September months, on the Ashtami
of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadon,
in the whole of north India. Temples and homes are beautifully decorated and
lit. An attractive feature of the celebrations are cribs & other decorations
depicting stories of Lord Krishna's childhood. There are five main "jhankis"
of Janmashtami which depict the entire sequence of events from Lord Krishna's
birth to his being discovered in Gokul. The "jhankis" include the
birth of Krishna in jail, Vasudev carrying Krishna to safety across the river
Yamuna amidst thunder and lightning, Vasudev's return to the jail, Kansa killing
Yashoda's daughter and finally the little Krishna in the cradle in Gokul. "Jhankis"
are created out of dolls dressed up as kids, men and women with lehangas, chunnis,
dhotis & kurtas. Raslila of every type are also performed - Janmlila, Shankarlila,
Putnalila and Naglila. In the evening bhajans are sung which end at midnight,
the auspicious moment when Lord Krishna was born. Thereafter arti is done, prasad
distributed and flowers showered on the idol.
Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna,
where his parents lived in captivity of the evil Kansa and he as a young boy
came and vanquished his maternal uncle Kansa to ascend the throne and free his
parents, celebrates Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. The main celebrations
are performed at the Dwarkadhish temple, Mathura in the form of Jhulanotsava
and the Ghatas during the entire month of Shravan. The ghatas are a unique feature
of the month long celebrations. During the ghatas of a particular colour the
whole temple is covered with decoration in the same colour. Even the Lord dresses
up in the same colour. The twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan takes on a festive
look and spirit of devotion runs high among the people. It was on the banks
of the Yamuna river where Lord Krishna played during his childhood and indulged
in pranks and tricks with his friends and the gopies. There are about 400 temples
dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city and the major festivities are
held at the Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram temple and Gopinath temple.
The Raslila of Braj is thematically the basis of many performing arts.
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The Tulsi Ghat at Varanasi is the venue for the 20 day long Krishna Leela celebration, of which Nag-Nathaiya Leela, one of the episodes is extremely famous. Lord Krishna enacted by an artist, jumps into the river as the play reaches climax and emerges on the serpent hood of Shesh Nag. Lakhs of people gather on the ghats of Ganga to witness this special enactment. Lord Krishna was born in the Dwapar Yuga which came just before the Kali Yug and Janmasthami, his birthday falls on the Ashtami Tithi or the 8th day of the new moon fortnight in the month of Bhadra some time in August or September. The Jhankis ( tableaux) depicting many significant scenes from Lord Krishna's life are the intrinsic part of Janmasthami. Devotees also make beautiful Jhulans (Cradles) for the baby Krishna. In some parts of India, young men break the Matkas (Earthen Pots) filled with butter and curds. The most important tableux is that of baby Krishna. A idol of baby Krishna is placed on a cradle, which is rocked to recreate scenes from Krishna's infancy. The devotees believe that anyone who makes a wish and while rocking the cradle in which the Lord is, his or her wish will be granted on this day. Other popular Jhankis are Kaaliya Mardan(vanquishing the black snake Kali Nag), Kansha vadha ( Killing Kansha) and lifting the Govardhan Parbhat. |
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In Brindavan, every year the Raasleelas
or the folk theatre acting out Krishnas Lifes stories begin much before the
Janmasthami day. These Raasleelas are staged by professional drama troupes or
even young children. These dramas characterised by colourful costumes and equally
colourful backgrounds. Raasleelas are usually accompanied by musicians and are
very popular among the people. The language spoken by the actors and the actresses
is the Brajbhasha but sometimes Hindi is also used. Janmashtami is also celebrated
with great enthusiasm at Dwarka. Dwarka is rightly called the city of gold.
Dwarka, the abode of Shri Krishna. This is how devotees think of the city where
Lord Krishna settled over 5000 years ago after leaving Mathura forever, and
where he reigned for 100 years. For pilgrims Dwarka's, presiding deity remains
Shri Krishna, and they flock there in thousands from all parts of India and
abroad.
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The temple towering over the surrounding
buildings was built 1400 years ago. It has several floors and is built of sandstone.
The interior is simple while the exterior is covered with elaborate carvings.
Janmashtami, the birthday of Shri Krishna, is celebrated with great splendour.
Rows of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans are sung, sermons are
delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his infant form. Thousands of people
go to Dwarka to visit the temple and participate in the fair. After visiting
the main temple, devotees go to Shankhoddhar Beyt. There are some other important
temples, both old and new. Among these is the temple of Shank-Narayan, dedicated
to the Matsyavatar, the incarnation of Vishnu as a fish. This was constructed
over 200 years ago. This auspicious day of birth of Krishna, the direct manifestation
of Vishnu himself is celebrated in all other parts of India too, with éclat
and great enthusiasm. In the Bhagvad Gita Krishna declares: "All this universe
has been created by me; all things exist in me", and Arjuna addresses him
as "the super universal spirit, the supreme dwelling, the eternal person,
divine prior to the Gods, unborn omnipresent". |
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Krishna's life is celebrated in great detail in the
Puranas like Harvamsha and Shrimad Bhagvatam. The circumstances in which he
was born were quite peculiar and mysterious. He incarnated himself primarily
to destroy evil and wickedness and to establish Dharma. Lord Krishna.The demon
king Kansa was a great and dreaded tyrant, but he loved his sister Devaki,
and at her marriage with Vasudeva, he, out of great affection, drove their
marriage chariot. Then, all of a sudden an oracle told him that eighth born
of Devaki shall be the cause of his doom and death. At this he would have
killed her then and there, but for the intervention of Vasudeva and their
promise to give him over each and every child born to them. They kept their
promise, and Kansa killed all of their seven children one after the other
to a great suffering and grief of the couple. They were kept in the prison
under strict watch and in chains and locks. So Krishna was born as their eighth
son in the prison cell. But it so happened, with divine grace, that the guards
fell asleep, their chains loosened and locks and the gates of the prison cell
opened. Vasudeva took the child Krishna to Nanda's house in Gokula and exchanged
him for a baby girl born there to Yasoda. When Kana heard of the birth of
girl child, he at once rushed to prison cell, and lifted the female child
high, catching it by the feet and was about to dash her against the rock.
When it slipped from Kansa's grip and assuming the beautiful form of the Divine
Mother vanishing saying, "Wretch! The destroyer is flourishing in Gokula".
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There was a great joy and rejoicing in Gokula at the birth of a son to king Nanda and queen Yashoda. Yashoda was quite unaware of the exchange that had taken place during the night. Janmashtami celebrations start right from the early morning with the bath in the sacred waters and prayers etc., but the climax reaches in the midnight with the rising moon, which marks the divine birth. On this auspicious day, strict fast is kept and broken only after the birth of Krishna at midnight. The temples and homes are decorated, scene-depicting Krishna's birth and his childhood pranks, etc., are staged with models both living and inanimate. Child Krishna's image is put into a richly decorated swing and rocked with a tender care all the day by the devotees. At night after birth, a small image of toddling Krishna is bathed in Charnamrita, amidst chanting of hymns, blaring of the conches, ringing of the bells and joyous shouting of "victory of Krishna". In Braja Mandala, especially Gokula and Mathura, this festival is celebrated with great possible religious fervour and enthusiasm and the special deliberations of the day are relayed on the air. People from distant places congregate to Mathura and Vrindavan on this day to participate in the festival. The piety and fast observed on this day ensure birth of many good sons, and salvation after the death. Reading and recitation of the Bhagvatam and Geet Govindam are most recommended on this day. |
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Except for Dwarka, which is in Gujarat, most of Krishna‘s story unfolds in Mathura and its environs. Brindavan (15 km from Mathura), where he played the flute, sported with the gopis, and wooed his sweetheart Radha; Govardhan (26 km away) where, as a child, he is said to have held aloft the Govardhan mountain on his finger for seven days and nights to protect the cowherds from a deluge; Gokul (16 km), where baby Krishna was kept hidden and sheltered from the evil King Kansa by his foster mother Yashoda; Barsana (21 km from Govardhan), the birthplace of Radha; all these and many other small towns are significant because they were in some way connected with Krishna. Not surprisingly, the entire area, called Brajbhoomi, is deeply steeped in Krishna lore. Janmashtami is celebrated in this entire area with incredible fervor and gaiety. However, the place which is considered the holiest is obviously Mathura, and within Mathura too, one particular temple that is built on the exact site where Krishna was born. |
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It is estimated that during Janmashtami, almost seven lakh people pour into Mathura and the surrounding towns. Buses crammed with pilgrims come from every corner of the country and line every lane and road in Mathura. Every hotel, every guesthouse, is full, and if one has not made arrangements, one cannot get a room anywhere in the city for all the money in the world. So a lot of pilgrims simply camp wherever they find place in a park, on the pavement, even on the road! All of Mathura becomes a sort of giant living room, with people sitting, sleeping and cooking wherever they can find a square inch. They throng the temples (of which there are many in Mathura), and wander around the innumerable little bazaars that mushroom all over the city. Snack stalls, mithai (sweet) shops, tiny shacks selling trinkets and baubles, others selling religious books and cassettes, and pictures of Lord Krishna spring up magically on every road. |
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Nevertheless, the real crowds during Janmashtami, of course, are at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. Hundreds of pilgrims squat on every inch of the temple grounds, fanning themselves with newspapers and listening in pin drop silence to the discourses of erudite religious teachers discourses relayed through a close circuit television network to every corner of the temple. Many people simply camp in the temple all day so that they can witness the midnight birth ceremony. As night falls, the crowds swell into the proverbial sea of humanity, jostling and pushing, in an attempt to get into the temple. The main hall of the temple, where the ceremony actually takes place, is usually so tightly packed with people that there isn‘t place to even squeeze in a pin! As twelve o‘clock draws nearer, an anticipatory murmur runs through the crowd and it starts straining to get a glimpse of what the priests are doing. At the stroke of midnight, when the deity is taken out, the crowd lets out a mighty roar, Krishna Bhagwan Ki Jai! The sound of frenzied clapping, the call of the conch shell rents the air, as the small deity, wrapped in white, is placed on a raised platform so that everyone can get a look. Besides Mathura, this festival is celebrated all over India with the special procedure and the regional festivities that are normally followed in each region.
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