In 2024, Janmashtami falls on August 26th.
The word Janmashtami literally means – the eigth day that marks a birth (Janma – Ashtami).
The birth that is celebrated on this eighth day is of Shri Krishna.
The day falls on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the Bhadrapada month. Since India follows the lunar calendar, every month is divided into two paksha (parts. The word paksha literally means a facade or aspect) – the Shukla Paksha – from the new moon to the full moon, as the moon waxes; and the Krishna paksha – from the full moon to the new moon, as the moon progressively wanes.
How to celebrate Janmashtami
Many devotees of Shri Krishna fast all day on this day.
There are prayers in all temples.
The child form of Krishna is very special in Hinduism. This particular form is called Laddoo Gopal – the Gopala (another name for Krishna) that is holding a laddo.
At many temples, Ladoo Gopal is put in a swing and devotees take turns rocking the swing gently, presumably, to humour the child just born. Children look forward to this ritual a lot.
Temples and homes are decorated with flowers and the idols are dressed in special clothes to mark the occasion.
Lord Krishna was also the eighth child of his mother, Devaki.
Lord Krishna is one of the most popular incarnations (avatars) of Lord Vishnu, both as a child and as an adult. His childhood stories are quite fascinating in which he comes out as very powerful, and someone who defeated evil quite easily.
Lord Krishna spent his early formative years in Mathura and Vrindavan, and these towns start preparing for this festival much in advance.
Krishna is also known as ‘Dwarkadheesh’ (King of Dwarika) as he had moved to Dwarika in Gujarat in the later part of his life. There, too, the festival is celebrated in a grand way.
They light up the ancient temple of Dwarika and prepare delicious bhog and prasad for the deity.
Children dress up as Radha and Krishna.
Children also make jhankis – small dioramas to display various aspects of Krishna’s life. Popular themes are episodes that are well-known, or everyday life in Vrindavan.
At some places, a procession is taken out. The procession has jhankis (tableaus) with some people dressed as Radha-Krishna, Gopis, and other characters from Krishna’s life.
Some Interesting Facts about Janmashtami
Here are some interesting facts about the festival of Janmashtami:
It is believed that Lord Krishna was born at midnight to Devaki and Vasudeva. However, he was brought up by Yashoda and Nanda in Vrindavan.
Krishna and his friends were the naughtiest children in the neighbourhood. Krishna loved white butter so much that often he would steal all of it that Yashoda would make at home. Even till date, the most popular prasad made for offering to the deity on Janmashtami is makhan mishri (white butter with sugar crystals).
Dahi Handi is a popular ritual at many places on Janmashtami.
On Janmashtami, many people observe a fast – i.e., they do not consume any grains during the day. They take a meal comprising fruits and water called ‘phallahar’.
On this day, Mathura, Vrindavan, and parts of Braj are sparkling. Temples and streets at these places are decorated with beautiful lights. Through the day, people visit the temples to pray to their deity. Idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are dressed up in new clothes and placed on swings. Sweet shops are full of laddoos and pedas. At midnight, ‘Krishna abhishekam’ is performed with milk, ghee, and water, and ‘bhog’ (first offering of Prasad) is offered to God.
The day after Janmashtami is celebrated as ‘Nanda Utsav’. On this day, people put together chappan bhog (56 items). This is distributed amongst people after the fast. Some of the common items included in chappan bhog are makhan mishri, curd, khichadi, kheer, rasgulla, jalebi, milk, cashews, mathri, and malpua, amongst others.
Janmashtami around the world
In Nepal too, people observe a fast until midnight. They recite the Bhagvad Gita and sing religious songs. The temples and houses are decorated.
In Fiji, it is known as Krishna Ashtami. Here, the celebrations go on for eight days. During these eight days, people gather at homes and at temples with their ‘mandalis,’ or devotional groups at evenings and night, and recite the Bhagavat Purana, sing devotional songs for Krishna, and distribute Prasadam.
In Arizona, United States, Governor Janet Napolitano was the first American leader to greet a message on Janmashtami, while acknowledging ISKCON.
The festival is also celebrated in other countries like Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago, and Jamaica.