Gokulastami or Krishna Janmashtami is the Hindu festival of the birth of lord Krishna. He is known as Lord Vishnu's eighth Avatar. To celebrate this festival devotees don't sleep on this day, keep fasting, prepare special sweets, and sing devotional songs through midnight at the birth Time of Lord Krishna. After that devotees break their fast. Celebration of Janmashtami presents a vivid picture of Indian culture and diversity in different states' temples.
Birth of Krishna:
Krishna's birth time was full of chaos, misery was everywhere, and there was no freedom. Krishna was born into the Yadav clan. At that time Kans was the king of Mathura, he wanted to kill Devki and Vasudev's children because of a prediction, that the eight children of Devki would be the maker of Kansas's destruction. Kans kept Vasudev and Devki in prison( Devki was Kansa's sister). King Kansa killed Devki's seven children on the same day they were born. According to the Hindu calendar, it comes in the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravan or Bhadrapada (August - September). When Krishna was born in jail at midnight everyone went to sleep.
That time Vasudev managed to get the baby away from Kans' grips and take him to the Nand baba and Yasoda in Gokul to save Krishna's life. The residents of Gokul were being harassed by the demons, so they decided to move with his family to Vrindavan. Temples of these places celebrate Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. In Mathura two important ways of Janmashtami celebrate first is Jhulanotsov ( people put swings and decorate them with flowers to welcome Krishna to their dwelling and to symbolize the cradling of baby Krishna). Secondly, Ghats of the river are a unique way to celebrate, temples are decorated, and Ras Lila is played by kids (between 11 to13 years).
Temples in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh:
The best Janmashtami Utsav are in Dwarkadhish Temple, Radha Vallabh Mandir. Srikrishna Janam Bhoomi Temple.
In the temple, the Lord Dwarkadhish is made from black shone stone and he has Carrington in his four hands, a Sudarshan Chakra, a mace, a conch, and a lotus flower.
The main rituals are given to Krishna like bath with milk, ghee and curd, dressing up and decorating him traditionally and placing him in the cradle, and keeping his idol in a room ( Garbha Griha) of Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir.
Vrindavan Temples. Uttar Pradesh:
Located in the North of Mathura Vrindavan is a place where Krishna lived in his childhood stealing butter and playing with kids and dancing with Gopis. During the celebration of Janmashtami, the whole Vrindavan is dazzling, people worship with bells, aarti and bhajan of Lord Krishna. The main religious places of Vrindavan are: first is Banke Bihari Temple- it is Rajasthani architecture Temple and the idol of Krishna is as a child standing in Tribhanga position. The word Banke means bent ( twisted) in three spots, and Bihari means a cheerful soul.
It is believed that Radha - Krishna played Rasa Leela in the Vrindavan's Nidhivan garden. Devotees believed that every day after it was dark Lord Krishna came to dance with the Gopis. More than 1500 wild tulsi plants are within the garden and some Radha- Krishna Temples are also there.
Iskcon, Vrindavan:
It is popular as Krishna-Balram Mandir. This Temple is raised with the purpose to educate people on Bhagavad Gita and Vegas. In the temple, there is a beautiful harmony of prayer ( kirtans) and dance. A white marble samadhi of Srila Prabhupada, who was the founder of ISKCON.
Gokul Temples:
After the birth of Krishna, he was hastily taken to the Gokul. Young Krishna was raised here privately. The Nanda Bhawan temple is the home of the foster parents of Lord Krishna (Krishna-Balaram grew up there). Janmashtami in Gokul is also called Gokulastami. Gokul gives a beautiful celebration of Janmashtami in rural India.
Udupi Temples:
Karnataka's Udupi is a religious place in India in the name of Krishna, far away from Mathura and Vrindavan. The most overjoyed occasion to enjoy the famous Udupi Krishna Math. The 13th-century Krishna Temple was founded by Saint Madhawacharya. In the folk story, Madhwacharya found the idol of Krishna on the ship. The tradition of this temple is to worship Krishna through the nine holes of a window. Krishna idol is placed at pashchimukha (facing West) in the temple. People worship Krishna through a window with nine holes. This beautiful window is called navagraha kindi. Krishna will bathe with milk, and various types of laddus prepaid for the Krishna Janmashtami celebration. Devotees perform Tiger dan, Leelotsav and Temples ring with bells and chants mantras.
One Of Udupi's other festivals is Vittal Pindi. Vittal is derived from 'Vittal' which is Lord Krishna's childhood name and Pindi means earthen pot containing butter, milk, and sugar. (Lord Krishna had broken many earthen pots for butter in his childhood). Vittal Pindi is celebrated the next day after Janmashtami. They installed the beautiful idol of Krishna holding a churning rod in one hand and a rope in the other.
Dwarka Temple, Gujarat:
According to the earliest text Dwarka was established by Krishna and Balram. It is also known as the golden city. It was built by Vishwakarma (a divine architecture). It is believed that the city was made of crystal, gold, diamonds and other precious stones. Krishna lived there for about 100 years. After Krishna's death, the city was believed to be submerged in the sea.
Temple's structure Dwarkadhish Temple is a five-storied edifice built over 72 pillars, there are two entrances into the temple, the first is the entry door which is called MokshDwar (Door to salvation), and the second is the exit door called SwargaDwar ( Gate to Heaven).
The main celebration of Janmashtami is in Dwarkadhish Temple, Rituals are fulfilled by Aboti Brahman (a special Brahman who performed these rituals for the past many years). The Festival started with Mangal aarti, beginning with Banta Bhog ( milk or milk products) offered to Krishna, then first darshan allowed to devotees. After Mangal aarti, Krishna gives the holy bath with panchamrit ( mixture of honey, curd, sugar, ghee and gangajal). After the bath, Lord Krishna is decorated with yellow clothes, Chandan mala, Chakra (discus), and shankh (conch), and then devotees are allowed to Darshan to Krishna. In the evening Krishna offers sweets in Bhog, and at night of the Janmashtami celebration, devotees wait eagerly for Krishna Darshan and keep dancing and singing bhajan and Garba dance. But Utsav bhoj is offered to Lord Krishna and devotees are not allowed to see the rituals. Everyone welcomes lord Krishna at midnight with joy and zealousness. Farmers in the Kutch region, take out a Krishna procession in a decorated bullock cart, with singing and dancing.
Janmashtami celebration In Mumbai:
Maharashtra's main attraction of Janmashtami in Mumbai is Dahi Handi and some important places to witness the Janmashtami.
Mumbai's ISKCON Temple in 'Juhu' is famous for the Janmashtami celebration. There are beautiful paintings of Radha and Krishna on the walls of the temple. Devotees in huge numbers came to celebrate Janmashtami and the deities are decorated with beautiful designer outfits too on this special occasion.
Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir is also an ISKCON Temple in South Mumbai. Many devotees came for Darshan from morning at 5 Am to 1 PM and singing kirtans (devotional songs) takes place all day. The festival ends with the midnight Darshan of lord Krishna and aarti. In many other temples, men and women gather to read and learn life lessons from Bhagavad Gita.
Dahi Handi is organized in various locations in the city. It is the most existing part of Janmashtami. A Handi (earthen pot - filled with milk, butter, dry fruits and ghee ) is hung with rope very high above the ground. A team of young members gather and makes a human pyramid. One of the team members climbs the pyramid to break the Handi. This competition is organized in many places in India. Sangharsh Pratishthan Dahi Handi (Thane) offers money prizes for the winning team. It is known to be lavish and richest in Mumbai. Shramik Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal ( Kharghar), is the most challenging and difficult Dahi Handi. Sankalp Pratishthan Dahi Handi (Warli) is also a famous Dahi Handi and some Bollywood celebrities also come here to enjoy the Dahi Handi celebration.
Jagannath Temple, Odisha:
Puri's Jagannath Temple is one of the holy places not for Hindus but Buddhist also. The temple has a wooden carved statue of the Lord, in contrast to the stone statues in other temples.
Odisha's Temples and Mutts have been specially decorated for Janmashtami in Puri and Bhubaneswar. Devotees gather at the Jagannath Temple to Darshan of Lord Krishna and offer their prayers. "Jeudi Bhog" was offered to Jagannath before the birth, it is thought that " Jeuda Bhog " is for relief to the labour pain, Shri Jagannath then gives birth to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.
Special celebration arrangements have been made in Nayapalli Radha Krishna Temple, ISKCON Temple and Ram Mandir.
Guruvayur Temple, Kerala:
Kerala's Guruvayur temple is Lord Krishna's 5,000 years old temple. According to the legends, Krishna's idol worship here is around 5,000 years old. Temple is popular in Kerala and also called "Dwarka of the South". Temple's one uniqueness is that devotees offer special food to elephants. 'Aanayoottu' is a special elephant-feeding program by the devotees that takes place in the morning. In Kerala, people celebrate Janmashtami according to the Malayalam calendar.
Govind Devji Temple, Rajasthan:
Temple is situated in Jaipur's city palace. The deity of Radha-Krishna was brought from Vrindavan by Temples's founder Raja Sawai Jai Singh. The main deity Krishna of this is believed to be made by Krishna's great Grandson Bajranbh. This Vaishnav temple is most significant and sacred for people.
Krishna-Balaram temple in Jaipur is also famous for the Janmashtami celebration. This Temple is exactly similar to Vrindavan's Krishna-Balaram temple, this 200-fit temple is the tallest in the state. Both temples are covered during the Janmashtami celebration. Temples are beautifully decorated for festivals. Devotees visit temples to offer prayer and seek blessings from Krishna.
In Janmashtami, the people of Tamilnadu make kolams ( drawings on the floor with rice batter) and make footprints of Krishna from outside of the house to the Pooja room, indicating the arrival of Krishna into their home. People observe fast till midnight and prepare savouries with dry fruits for offering to Krishna. Mantra jap, Pooja, and bhajan are part of the celebration.
Shree Govindajee Temple, Imphal:
Vaishnavism is part of Manipur and the Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal is the largest Vaishnav temple. It has two gold-plated domes. It has a well-maintained pond and garden, adjoining the Manipur's Royals Palance of former Maharaj. This Shree Govindajee Temple was built by Maharaja Nara Singh, Govindajee ( Krishna) was a Royal de. During the Janmashtami celebration, people enact Raslila(dance by Radha- Krishna) and Manipur dance. Kids dress up like Krishna or Gopis, children play Manipur's traditional game Likkcannabisnaba (a border game played on the night of Janmashtami). People observe fast, recite Bhagavad Gita, people sing bhajans and maha aarti for Krishna.
Goa is famous for churches but temples in Goa are also beautiful and significant.
A small ancient and unique temple of Goa is believed to be Krishna-Devki, it exists on Chorao Island. In the temple depicted as maa, Devki is in a standing position with little Krishna between her legs. For the celebration of Janmashtami, devotees make long queues for Krishna's darshan.
Mayapur, West Bengal:
In West Bengal's Mayapur ISKCON Temple, it is decorated with lights, and non-stop kirtan keeps going on in the temple. Mangal aarti, Darshan aarti, Rajbhog aarti, Sandhya aarti and the main event is Abhishek with Maha Aarti are the traditional way for Krishna Janmashtami celebration in this temple.
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