Why Is Janmashtami Celebrated in India?

Celebrated all over India, Janmashtami is one of the highest festive and significant festivals celebrated for Lord Krishna's birth. And in case you're wondering “Why is Janmashtami celebrated”, then this blog is going to help you how and when it is celebrated and its importance. Let's dive deeper into the world of Krishna Janmashtami and understand the traditions, stories, and festivities that make this day special.

Who was Lord Krishna?

Before we answer why is Janmashtami celebrated, it's essential to know who Lord Krishna is. Probably the most loved and popular deity across Hinduism, those tales of his life are not just exciting with regards to the experience, teachings, and adventures, but equally heady when it comes to moral guidance and self-improvement. The great Lord Krishna happens to be the eighth avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu, said to draw on Earth for times when peace and dharma would weaken.

The life of Krishna is portrayed with wisdom, bravery, and love in these ancient texts: the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. He is known for his playful nature, his deep love for his friends and devotees, and his role as a guide in the epic battle of Kurukshetra. His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, one of the sacred Hindu scriptures, continue to inspire people even today.

Why Is Janmashtami Celebrated?

Now that we know a bit about Lord Krishna, let's see why Janmashtami is celebrated in India. Janmashtami is a festival celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, who had taken birth more than 5,000 years ago in the town of Mathura. His birthday is considered the divine advent in the darkest of nights, bringing hope, joy, and righteousness to the world.

When Krishna was born, the Earth was under the influence of the worst of the evil kings and demons. The most dreaded of them all was King Kansa, who even happened to be the uncle of Krishna. He was told by a prophecy that his doom would come from the eighth son of his sister, Devaki. So to avoid this, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva, and inevitably he killed their first six children. But, during Krishna's birth, there were a lot of miracles where Vasudeva took the newborn safely to Gokul village where he had spent his childhood at the place of Yashoda and Nanda.

The birth of Krishna is therefore celebrated as it is a celebration of might over the wrongdoers where his life is known to signify the importance and ability of the eternal truth, love, and good to crush dishonesty, subhumanity, enmity, and cruelty. This is why Janmashtami is celebrated with a high zeal and enthusiasm in India.

Krishna Janmashtami Celebration: The Festive Spirit

Celebration of Krishna Janmashtami is full of color and cheerfulness, with a host of rituals, hawan, and prayers conducted. People across India and other countries participate in celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. The customs and celebrations may differ from part to part, yet love and devotion for Krishna is the same all across.

 

1. Fasting and Prayer

Fasting is one of the nice ways through which the celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami are observed. More than often, followers carry out the total-fast cleansing of the body to acquire purity and draw close to Krishna. They do not eat certain foods, engage themselves in prayer, meditation, and sing devotional songs in bhajans and kirtans. The environment is peaceful and filled with devotion, as one gets inside with the remembrance of Krishna's divine birth.

2. Midnight Parties

Why is Janmashtami celebrated at midnight? It is said that Krishna was born at midnight, so this is the hour at which the birthday celebrations are most special in all the temples, with flowers, lights, and colorful rangolis. An idol of baby Krishna is placed in a cradle, and devotees visit temples in order to sing hymns, offer sweets, and perform aarti, or the worship ritual. Everybody starts rejoicing at midnight, full of enthusiasm, since their dear deity has arrived.

3. Dahi Handi

Another exciting part of the Krishna Janmashtami festival is the Dahi Handi occasion. It is particularly famous in the state of Maharashtra. It is done by the young boys to make human pyramids and reach a pot, hanging high above the ground, filled with curd and break it. This event is organized with reference to the naughty nature of Lord Krishna in his childhood. He, being Lord Krishna, was very fond of stealing butter and curd from the pots of the village ladies, so boys of the town will find a specific house and start stealing butter from the pot.

Dahi Handi is not only adventurous but also an attempt to relive those mischievous stories that are connected to Lord Krishna. 

4. Raslila

Raslila is a traditional dance-drama of Lord Krishna, primarily his pastimes with the Gopis of Vrindavan. It sketches the life and story of Lord Krishna with the Gopis of Vrindavan. It becomes a lovely way to promote and illustrate the stories of Krishna in one essential part of the Krishna Janmashtami celebration. Therefore, the Raslila performances are rich with music, dancing, and vibrant costumes.

How Do We Celebrate Krishna Janmashtami?

There are many ways to make this festival special. Celebrating in temples, but the happiness and dedication of this festival day do matter a lot.

1. Decorate the House

One of the first things people do to prepare for Janmashtami is to decorate their homes. You can design lovely rangolis (art made with colored powders), colored lights, and flowers on the idol of Krishna, including new clothes. Some families also keep a small cradle for baby Krishna, which is embellished with cloth and flowers.

2. Make Sweets

Sweets make a big part of the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami. Since Lord Krishna is known for his fondness for butter and sweets, devotees prepare various kinds of sweet delicacies like butter, peda, kheer, and laddoos. All such sweets are then offered to Krishna with much love as prasad and distributed among relatives and friends.

3. Sing Bhajans

Singing bhajans is another sweet way of celebrating Janmashtami with spirit. A gathering of families and friends in the praise of Lord Krishna, appreciating his divine indulgences, casts an environment of serenity and divinity in one's residence.

4. Storytelling

Stories form a very important component of making merry during Krishna Janmashtami. Many stories of Krishna's birth, childhood miracles, and his contribution to the Mahabharata are retold with great vibrance. These stories do not only entertain but at the same time, they unfold some important values such as honesty, courage, and love towards fellow humans.

5. Fasting and Prayers

As noted, fasting is popular when Janmashtami is celebrated. On this very day, the fast starts at sunrise and breaks at midnight. Most of the day is spent in prayer and meditation. The fast is broken with special prasad, which is shared with everyone after the midnight celebrations.

How to Celebrate Krishna Janmashtami at Home?

If you are celebrating Janmashtami at home and are in a confusion of how to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, here's what you can do in order to make the day meaningful and joyous.

1. Create a Krishna Idol

You can even try making one for yourself with traditional derivation by mud or dough. Let children do the decoration with colors, beads, or flowers along with you. This would certainly personalize the celebration and inculcate a feeling in kids for the festival.

2. Plan a Dahi Handi Celebration

You can do the same with a bunch of small kids or with your neighbors and organize a small Dahi Handi at your place. Fill a pot with Dahi, butter, and sweets and hang it in your garden or in your courtyard. Allow the kids to form a human pyramid to break the matki just like the young Krishna and his friends used to do.

3. Host a Bhajan Session

Have a bhajan session and invite friends and relatives. You could sing some traditional hymns or even play some recordings of the prominent bhajans. Increase the spiritual vibrations; rejoice with everyone about feeling spiritual on this day.

4. Cook a Festive Meal

Cook a delightful Janmashtami feast with all the best recipes dear to Lord Krishna. Be sure to include butter, yogurt, and all types of sweets and fruits. When the delicious meal is ready, offer it to Lord Krishna as prasad before distributing it to your family

5. Watch Lord Krishna Movies

Another way also is by watching movies or animated shows about Krishna's life. There are too many movies and series that show his adventures and teachings. This will be fun and also an educational activity for the whole family.

When Is Janmashtami Celebrated?

And obviously, now that you know everything about how to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, you'll want to know when Janmashtami is celebrated, right? It's that auspicious time of the year when Janmashtami takes place on a different date every single year, as it is aligned with respect to the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, Janmashtami is going to fall on the date of 26th August.

The actual timing of celebrations might vary according to a region and the local tradition that a community follows. Some start the celebration from the night time, which is referred to as 'Nishita Kaal' that is assumed to be the time at which Krishna was born. It is always good to confirm the same with your local temple about the exact timing.

Significance of Janmashtami for Children

Krishna Janmashtami is an important festival, especially for children. Stories about the early childhood of Lord Krishna are filled with enjoyment, adventure, and lessons to be learned, which help little kids find him as their most dear one. Here is why Janmashtami is important for children:

 

1. Learning Values

Through such stories, children learn about values like truthfulness, compassion, courage, and the virtues of being right. These values were something beyond stories but the path to viewing every aspect of life in a good and spiritual light.

2. Cultural Connection

Indians celebrate Janmashtami that gives kids a chance to associate themselves with their roots in regards to culture. This festival helps kids learn and understand the bright traditions and customs of India and their own lineage.

3. Creative activities

Janmashtami provides an opportunity for children to get involved in creative work like making Krishna Idols, decorating the house, and being a part of Dahi Handi functions. All these works are interesting and improve skills such as creativity, teamwork, and coordination.

4. Spiritual Growth

However, at a very young age, they can imbibe spirituality that is steeped in devotion because of Janmashtami. It makes them learn about the value of faith, love, and compassion in life.

Conclusion

Krishna Janmashtami sums up a festival involving the feelings of joy, offering one's devotion, and only a high level of richness in culture. So with this notion in mind behind the celebration of Janmashtami and the way people partake in it, you can be part of the very spirit living in the rejoicing of such a wonderful occasion. Fasting or breaking of a Dahi Handi, all-night bhajan singing, or just sharing stories of Lord Krishna—whichever way one does it, the essential inner truth remains: one celebrates love, truth, and righteousness. All these celebrations sum upto “why is janmashtami celebrated” in india.

With the festival of Krishna Janmashtami fast approaching this year, it is time the values represented by Krishna are recalled, with his life teaching us indeed many lessons. More important than the way it is celebrated—on a big, simple, or private note—is the love and devotion that one brings to such an event. So gather your family, decorate your home, and get ready to celebrate the birth of one of the most dear gods within Hinduism. 

Happy Janmashtami!

FAQs : 

Why is Janmashtami considered spiritually significant ?

The day is considered spiritually significant as Lord Krishna is believed to have been born over 5,200 years ago to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura. His birth is celebrated to honor his divine mission of eradicating evil and establishing dharma (righteousness).

What is the short story for Janmashtami?

Shri Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudev, but was brought up by Yashoda and Nanda in Vrindavan. The festival generally falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha or 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada. It is said that Lord Krishna was born in Mathura Prison.

What is the spiritual importance of Janmashtami?

Janmashtami assumes great significance for devotees because on this day you remember all the qualities that Krishna came to manifest. In Hindi, they say 'Prakat hona' which means unveiled or manifested. Space was already there, but it took a shape and form. Our ancient seers are very intelligent.

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