JANMASTMI : Birthday of lord KRISHNA

 Shri Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav is one of the most popular festivals of Hindus celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated with pomp and show in various parts of India and all over the world. The peak of festivity is however, witnessed in the twin cities of Mathura(birthplace of Bhagwan Krishna) and Vrindavan. Both cities are situated in Northern India. 

As a socially responsible manifestation, Shri Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav Samiti endeavors to create value for the Indian society by introducing the beauty, grace and wisdom embodied in the various festivals of India, thereby preserving India's rich cultural heritage. Through this organization, we hope to form a mutual respect for and foster the common bond that various Indian festivals share. 

The great diversity of Indian religious beliefs is projected through the various festivals that are celebrated in India. They arise from the innate desire of man to seek diversion from humdrum activities that help in symbolizing, reflecting and enriching social life in a specific cultural setting. it seeks to conserve and promote an awareness of this rich and diversified cultural treasure amongst the citizen of this country through various expositions that focus on the tradition of excellence, conversing the famous legends, rituals, mythology and philosophy of Indian Festivals and in turn facilitating an awareness of their deeper and subtler values.

Rituals 

People fast on this day, usually a waterless fast. 

They spend the day immersed in Shri Krishna's glory by reading, reciting and singing his divine leela especially in the evening in mandirs. Temples of Lord Krishna are decorated most beautifully and children are adorned as Lord Krishna and Radhika, his spiritual beloved. Krishna Leela or the plays depicting scenes from Krishna's life, especially childhood, are performed. At midnight, the Lord's birth hour, arti is performed. He is also installed in the form of 'Lalji' (child form) in a swing and devotionally offered many sumptuous food dishes. 'Makhan' (butter) is especially included since Shri Krishna loved this in childhood. The traditional prasad is 'Panchajiri' - made of five ingredients: powdered ginger, 'suva', coriander, sugar and ghee. Other ingredients include poppy seeds (khaskhas) and dessicated coconut shavings.The most popular ceremony of Dahi-handi (breaking a pot full of milk and its derivatives} takes place on the second day.

The Ceremony of Dahi-Handi 

During this ceremony a large earthenware pot is filled with milk, curds, butter, honey fruits etc. and is suspended from a height between 20 to 40 feet. Sporting young men and boys come forward to claim this prize. To do so they construct a human pyramid by standing over each other's shoulders till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. Normally, currency notes are tied to the rope by which the pot is suspended. This prize money is distributed among those who participate in the pyramid building.

This ceremony replicates Krishna's love for milk and butter. In his childhood, the Lord Krishna along with his mates used to raid the houses of his neighbors in search of milk and butter.