SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI

Eight days after the full moon in Shravan is Janmashtami or the birthday of Lord Krishna. Krishna is believed to h ae been born at midnight. People offer prayers in temples at night. In some temples a small idol of baby Krishna is put into a cradle at midnight and rocked . In Mathura where krishna was born, Janmashtami is celebrated with a great deal of fervour and feeling. Human pyramids try to break pots of butter even as they slip and fail, till they succeed.

                Lord Krishna's Birthday falls eightdays after Raksha Bandhan in the month of Shravan(July-August) during the monsoon.Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in a prison at Mathura. King Kans the brother of Devaki had imprisoned them because it was predicted that the eighth child of Devaki would kill him. But Vasudeva succeeded in taking Lord Krishna away from the prison on a stormy night across the Yamuna river to Gokul. Lord Krishna grew up in the care of Yashoda and Nanda.

                Raas Leela performanced replay incidents of his bravery as well as his mischief. On Janmashtami, temples are lit, a silver cradle is decorated and an idol of Lord Krishna is placed within and artis are performed. Singing of bhajans goes on till midnight, the time Lord Krishna was born. Some people keep a fast till midnight. Prasad - fruits, kheer(milk maid), puri and potato bhaji is distributed.

                In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is celebrated by enacting the pranks of Lord Krishna stealing the butter from earthen pots. People of that aea tie earthen pots filled with ghee and dahi(curd) between buildings, in compounds and lanes. Groups of men make human pyramids to reach the pot. Buckets of water are thrown at them to foil their attempts. The pot is broken after several atttempts amidst loud cheering.