Janmashtami - History, Significance, Celebration Across the world

Janmashtami or Gokulashtami or Krishna Janmashtami, the day of Janm – Birth of Lord Shree Krishna on Ashtami - eighth day of Krishna Paksha of Shravan Month is the annual celebration remembering the birth of Krishna across the world. Shree Krishna – the eighth incarnation of Supreme Lord Vishnu was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in year 3228 BC at the end of Dwapar Yuga in mid night at 12 when they were imprisoned by Devaki’s brother demon king Kansa at Mathura. Shree Krishna is the most beloved deity of Sanatan Dharma with crores of devotee and millions of temple across the world even after more than 5250 years.

Legend and Importance of Janmashtami

As per the promise of Lord Vishnu, whenever Adharma starts ruling over the Dharma with increase in evil spirit on earth, I will appeared on earth and established the Dharma again. At the end of Dwapar Yuga, Adharm reach on its peak and people are tortured by demon and cruel Kings on entire earth. Thus Shree Krishna – eighth incarnation of Supreme Lord Vishnu takes birth on Jamashtami to release the land or Goddess Dharti Mata from Adharmi people.

At moment of Shree Krishna’s birth the whole surrounding becomes vibrant, river flows with full of water, lakes bloomed with lotus, planetary system alter in such a way to set auspicious time, entire environment becomes pious for most awaited moment and sages and gods showered flowers from heaven.

Before this auspicious moment demon king Kans killed six son of Devki and Vasudev and waited for birth of Shree Krishna. But at the time of birth of Krishna before Kans reached to killed 8th son, doors of prison were opened and Vasudev brings his son Krishna to Gokul at home of Nandbaba as guided by the Akashvani. These six sons were the sons of Marichi – Mansa Putra – Mind born of Brahma in previous births and they committed an offense to Lord Brahma thus they cursed to be the grandsons of Hiranyakashipu in form of demons and then next birth they came into the womb of Devaki. If we related in real sense then found that our mind has six enemies namely lust, anger, greed, pride, envy and illusion. We cannot feel and reach to Lord Krishan until these six enemies are killed inside us.

Celebration of Janmashtami

Janmashtami is celebrated across the world with lot of enthusiasm and followers and devotee are eagerly waiting for this moment and auspicious appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna. People organise grand events and decorate temples, society, home, Incense burns, scriptures are read, chanting of Mantra, devotional songs, slogan like “Nand Gher Anand Bharyo Jay Kanaiya Lal ki “, observe fast to celebrate Krishna’s birthday to share divine love for Krishna. Idol of Bal Krishna placed in decorated swings. Next day Nand Utsav is celebrated as the occasion when Nanda Baba distributed gifts and sweet in Gokul in honour of the birth of Lord Shree Krishna.

Janmashtami Celebration in Maharashtra

Across the Maharashtra and specially in Mumbai, Dahi Handi is much-loved event, in which team of youth called Govinda, arrange in human pyramid and break an earthen pot –Handi filled with buttermilk - Dahi, which is tied at a convenient height. The topmost person tries to break the handi by hitting it with head. This event is planned in memory of legend of the Bal Krishna and his friends steal the butter from home of Gopi in Gokul. Popular Dahi handi events are observed at Dadar, Lower Parel, Worli, Mazgaon, Lalbaug, Thane in Mumbai and Babu Genu, Mandai in Pune.

Janmashtami Celebration in other part of India

Janmashtami is celebrated across the India and mainly at the place which are directly attached with life of Lord Shree Krishna. Mathura Gokul and Vrindavan of Uttarapradesh where Krishna spent childhood period attracts devotee from all around the world. Dwarka, Gujarat - the city where Lord Krishna established kingdom after Mathura is another key city where Janmashtami is celebrated with grand events and millions of devotee. Puri of Oddisha where grand celebration observed at Jagannath temple and lot of people visit here and witness this time.

Gokulashtami is celebrated with great dedication in various state of South India as well. People of Tamil Nadu decorates the floor with kolams and Geetha Govindam - devotional songs are sung along with chanting of slokas of Bhagvad Gita in praise of Lord Krishna. In Andhra Pradesh, children are dress up as Lord Krishna and visit neighbours and friends.

Janmashtami Celebration in around the world

Apart from India, millions of devotee and followers of Lord Shree Krishna around the world celebrates this festival with great zeal. USA, Europe, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, Australia etc countries celebrate Janmashtami with immense joy. People of these country observe the fast, Krishna temples are decorated, chanting of Mantra and devotional songs are sungs, Prasad is distributed.

If we observe entire life and every act of Lord Shree Krishna, these all act were perform to teach lesson of life to society and human. Every acts of Lord Shree Krishna are extra ordinary and lesson on Bhagwag Gita – the main holy scripture of Sanatan Dharma is most promising. Every age segment can found the solution of their problem of each kind from Bhagvad Gita, thus it is the only scripture of which we celebrate the birthday – Gita Jayanti . Let us try to transform our greed to kindness, egoism to humility, retribution to forgiveness, worry to peace and hate to love and made this Janmashtami moment memorable.