Janmashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Shrikrishna Jayanti, and Krishnasthami, is one of India’s most revered festivals, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Though Janmashtami is celebrated worldwide, devotees predominantly flock to renowned Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura, deeply connected to Krishna’s birth.
The center-piece of Janmashtami is the Abhishek ritual, performed precisely at the moment of Krishna’s birth. During this ceremony, Krishna’s idol is bathed in panchamrit, a mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and water.
The ritual is accompanied by the sound of conch shells, the ringing of bells, and Vedic hymns. After the abhishek, devotees offer 56 different food items, known as chappan bhog, to Lord Krishna.
A highlight in Mathura and Vrindavan is the Dahi Handi event, inspired by Krishna’s childhood events of stealing butter from high-hung pots. Young men form human pyramids to reach and break these pots.
The following day is celebrated as Nandotsav, marking the joyous occasion when Krishna’s foster father, Nanda Baba, distributed sweets in Gokul.
Similarly, Odisha is also soaked in devotion with vibrant Janmashtami celebrations, as devotees throng to Krishna temples, including ISKCON, from early morning.
In Puri, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a stunning sand sculpture of Lord Krishna with the message "Kill the evil" for Janmashtami.
President Droupadi Murmu called on citizens to embrace Krishna's teachings and work for national progress, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda also conveyed their wishes for the auspicious occasion.