Krishna Janmashtami holds very high importance to all the Hindus all over the world.
Namaste!
Welcome to all the readers out there. How can we miss such a big festival for all Krishna followers? Here, is the most awaited festival for all the Vaishavaites. Krishna Janmashtami!
Introduction
Krishna janamastami is day on which Lord krishna was born. Further, it is the day of Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Bhadpadra mas of Hindu Panchang. As per Gregorian calender, it usually falls either on August or September every year. I am sure, nobody can deny the existence and revervance of most loved and adorned Hindu God, Shri Krishna. Furhtermore, Hinduism is incomplete without him.
Date of Krishna Janmashtami 2024
Lord Krishna was born on Rohini Nakshatra.The day was the Ashtami of Bhadrpada mas of Hindu panchang.
Apparently, in 2024, we are going to witness this majestic day of celebrations on August 26, 2024. also, the Ashtami tithi will start on 3:39 am on 26 August and wil end at 2:19 am on August 27, 2024. Also, Rohini Nakashatra will start at 9:10 pm on August 26, 2024.
However, we are going to witness special Janamashtami this year. As it is going to be amalgamation of five important elements viz.
- Bhadrpada mas Krishna Paksha
- Ashtami tithi midnight timings
- Rohini Nakshatra
- Monday signifies moon
- Moon of Taurus.
This is going to be unique time period for celebrating auspicious Krishna Janamashtami. It is called Jayanti yog. As per Gautami Grantha, this rare puja Muhurat is going to give you an opportunity to align your energies to the divine form. It will vanish all your sins and make you earn Punya (good virtue).
As per Padam Purana, if a devotee observe fast on Jayanti yoga, he and his ancestors gets away from the curse of Pret Yoni. His ancestors are free from their past.deeds and he is blessed to go to Vaikuntha Dham.
Confused over 26 or 27 August?
However, the Janambhoomi temples of Mathura have announced that the divine birth anniversary of Lalo (another name for Lord Krishna) will be celebrated on 26th August 2024. Similarly, Shri Bankey Bihari Temple in Vrindavan has scheduled Krishna Janmashtami for 27th August 2024, based on Udyatithi calculations. While this may cause confusion for some, for me, it means a double celebration, an opportunity to align my energies even more deeply with Him.
According to astrologers, in 2023, the Janamastami mahotsav was celebrated for two consecutive days. The Ashtami tithi started on September 6, 2023 at 15:37 pm and ended on September 7, 2023 at 4:14 pm.
Significance and Rituals of Krishna Janmashtami
a) Apparently, the celebration of birth anniversary of Lord Krishna is also called Krishan janmotsav or Gokulashtami. Also, it is celebrated at a grand level mainly in Braj Kshetra with glee and joy. Braj Kshetra include Mathura, Vrindavan and other nearby areas where Lord Krishna has spent his childhood.
b) Further, it is considered good to have plays and dramas in temples and public places before his birth anniversary to depict his mischievous activities as a part of Janmashtami celebrations. Infact, at many places, we have Dahi handi celebrations on this day revering makkhan chor swaroop of Lord Krishna.
c) Specially in Northern India, devotees often set up elaborate displays depicting Krishna’s infancy and his interactions with various characters in their houses and temples. They call it Hindola sajan. To buy Hindola for your Laduu Gopal ji, click here.
d) Moreover, Krishna lovers also engage in devotional singing, dance performances and reading of religious texts that narrate Krishna’s stories. Many organisations and group of people organise Dahi Handi and fancy dress competition and other cultural events to rejoice the birth anniversary celebrations all over the country.
e) Most common ritual is to observe the day long fast. Fasting until midnight, when it is believed that baby Krishna was born, is the most common practice. Additionally, temples are adorned with decorations. You must have observed the the idol of Laddu Gopal is kept inside the cucumber. Later, the idol is bathed in water, ghee, dahi, makhan, milk and honey. This makes panch amrit which is distributed amongst devotees as prasad.
And, another common ritual is to decorate homes and temples, creating colorful rangoli designs and sharing festive meals with family and friends.
Legends
According to Bhagwad Purana, the Royal couple, Devaki and Vasudev, was captured by her brother Kansa to disagree with the Bhavishya wani (announcement from Sky) . Again, It was announced that the eighth child of this couple would kill the King Kansa.
So, to avoid his death, he kept the couple under arrest. And, on Ashtami of Bhadrpada maas, when baby Krishna was born, maya played her game. All the jailer slept deeply. Even mother Devaki was unconscious.
Infact, Vasudev took the baby Krishna in his lap and got out of the jail without any hitch. Meanwhile, he walked towards Nandgaon, and crossed river Yamuna and went to the house of Nand Baba to drop the little Lord Krishna besides mata Yashoda.
Hence, it is celebrated with great love and devotion all over the world.
Conclusion
Overall, Janmashtami is a time for devotion, reflection and cultural celebration among followers of Lord Krishna. Also, our celebrations of birth anniversary of his highness do not stop here, we do have Nandotsav on very next day. Here, it is customary ritual to celebrate the birth of our beloved kanha at Nand Baba house.
Have a blessed time ahead.
Radhey- Radhey.
This Krishna Janamashtami, if you want to bring the majestic idol of Ladoo Gopal ji home, buy here.
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