Janmashtami

According to Hindu mythology, Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna on the 8th day Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in Shravan month. Devotees are called the day Janmashtami, Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami. The story about the birth of Lord Krishna says that biologically he is born in the dungeon of Mathura as the 8th son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Devaki, mother of Lord Krishna had a brother named Kamsa, a demon king. He took over the throne of Mathura from Ugrasen, his father. Once Devaki married the Yadava prince Vasudeva with the hopes of taking over the Yadava clan to Kamsa. Unfortunately, after marriage, a prophet told that one of the children born to Devaki and Vasudeva will definitely be the cause of his death. He was afraid of those words and decided to kill his sister Devaki right there. At the same time, Vasudeva requested him for his wife's life and promised to handover each child born to them. Kamsa accepted that and imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva. As soon as a child was born to them and Kamsa killed the child by smashing the head against the wall of the prison. But during a stormy night, Krishna is born in that jail. Vasudeva had to cross the Yamuna river to pass the child to his friend Nandraja and his wife Yashoda to save the life of Krishna from the wicked hand of Kamsa. That night, a baby girl was also born to Nandraja and Yashoda. While secretly carrying their son, Lord Vishnu's giant snake came and helped to cross the river. When he reached their friend's house and exchanged the baby. Vasudeva returned with the baby girl and gave a loud cry. The guards informed Kamsa about the birth of the 8th child. When Kamsa came and Devaki begged not to kill the baby, but he didn't hear of that and came to kill the child. Suddenly that exchanged baby transformed into Goddess Durga and warned him that his death had arrived in his own kingdom. After that goddess vanished. Kamsa thinks that the prophecy may not be true. He released Vasudeva and Devaki. But the parents were afraid of Krishna's birth and wished to hear her son is safe. At the same time Gokul started to celebrate the coming of that divine boy. Nandraja and Yasoda called him Krishna. The rituals of Janmashtami starts from the day before it. During the day of Janmashtami, devotees are decorating temples and chanting mantras or Kirtans of Lord Krishna. After that fasting starts. Dahi Handi is an important sign that you can notice in this festival. It is observed on the second day of Janmashtami. Dahi Handi is an event that shows the stealing of Lord Krishna. An earthen pot or Handi contains butter, dry fruits and milk. A group of young boys creates a human pyramid and climb on each other to break the pot. This play indicates the remembrance of Krishna in the age of a small kid. At that age he was named Makhanchor, which means one who steals butter. Grouping of boys to break that pot shows the teamwork principles. As part of custom in Mathura and Vrindavan devotees are bathed the image of Lord Krishna in water and milk. He dressed in new clothes and worshipped. After that devotees are offered sweets to God and later distributed as Prasad.