janmashtami-festival | Janmashtami Festival

Tuesday, 06 October 2009 06:56

Janmashtami-Gujarat

About:

Gujarat witnesses a very peculiar as well as an interesting ritual by the womenfolk during Janmashtami. Women give up all the household chores like cooking and cleaning etc. to play cards. This is an age old tradition. Women doing mind placing bets during the card session. The exact history of this peculiar tradition during Janmashtami is unknown but according to sociologists, this custom may have begun as a pass-time for women in the joint family system. Fasting all day long, the women played cards to kill time as well as keep them awake the entire night. It is said that women eat cold food prepared two days in advance.

Janmashtami is popular as 'Gokulashtami' or 'Krishna Jayanti'. Lord Krishna is regarded as one of the main Gods among the Hindus. According to the mythology, there are various 'Yug' (phase) of Hindu mythology, and the birth of Sri Krishna took place in 'Dwapur Yug'. Sri Krishna came in this world to demolish the daemon Kansha, the king of Mathura. The birth occasion of Krishna is celebrated with the offerings that take place through out the night.

Lord Krishna is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and he took birth to kill his maternal uncle Kansha. Lord Krishna was born of Devki, sister of Kansha. Kansha was aware of his death and so he killed other children of Devki. But as Kansha was destined to be killed by Devki's eighth son, so Krishna was handed over to Nandalal who had taken care of Krishna. The legend and the myths make a wonderful impact and beliefs on the Hindus and these strong beliefs are well evident in the glory and splendor of the occasion. People of Gujarat treat the occasion as a grand event and the celebration takes place in temples, personal houses and in the localities when all the females treat Lord Krishna as their own child. On the occasion different sweets, dishes are prepared to give honor to the God.

Dwarka, the kingdom founded by Lord Krishna is located within the territories of the present day Gujarat and therefore, Krishna Janmashtami in Gujarat India is one of the most popular of the fairs and festivals in Gujarat.The Krishna Janmashtami Celebration in Gujarat is therefore one of the most popular events that is celebrated in both the public as well as private domain. Another place where the festival generates considerable heat is at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Lord Krishna’s birthplace.The festivities begin with fasting on the previous day (Saptami, seventh day) which is followed by a night-long vigil commemorating the birth of Krishna at night, and his immediate removal by his father to a foster-home for safe-keeping at Gokula. At midnight, the idol of the infant Krishna is bathed, placed in a cradle and worshipped.

Time(indian calendar Tithi):

The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated during the month of August or September depending on the Indian calendar. The celebration of this festival is followed according to the Indian calendar and hence the month in the English calendar varies every year. This day also falls on the day of Shravan Poornima when the monsoon season.

Climate/Weather:

The land relief in Gujarat is low in most parts of the state, resulting in a great diversity in the climate of Gujarat India. Gujarat experiences mild, pleasant and dry winters, with average daytime temperatures ranging around 83 °F(29 °C) and night temperatures around 53 °F(12 °C). The summers are very hot and dry, with day temperatures rising up to around 105 °F(41 °C) and night temperatures dropping to 85 °F(29 °C).

History:

On the auspicious day of Janmashtami the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated all over the country. It is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh. It comes in the month of August/September or on the eighth day after the dark fortnight in Bhadon. Devaki and Vasudeva were the parents of Lord Krishna. But Kansa, Devaki’s brother, imprisoned his parents when he was about to born. The prediction of Kansa getting killed by the Devaki and Vasudeva’s eight child was the reason behind this. Anyhow, in the midst of a harsh storm Vasudeva took Lord Krishna to Gokul, immediately after his birth. There he grew up under the love and care of Yashodha and Nand.

Importance of festival:

The verses in the Bhagavad-Gita (a sacred book narrated by Lord Vishnu) say, that whenever there will be predominance of evil and decline of religion, I will reincarnate to kill the evil and to save the good. The main significance of Janmashtami is to encourage goodwill and to discourage bad will. Krishna Jayanti also celebrates togetherness. The holy occasion brings people together, thus it signifies unity and faith.

Method of Celebration:

worship:
This worship concludes with offerings of flowers, waving of lights (Arati), and reading of that portion of the Bhagavatam which deals with the birth of Krishna. This synchronises with midnight, the hour of the Lord's birth, at which time the murti of the Lord is rocked in a beautifully decorated cradle. After this item, all the assembled devotees partake of the holy prasad or sacrament, and then retire, filled with the Grace and blessings of Lord Krishna.

Fasting:
The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival. Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. People prefer to have only milk and milk products as they were the favourite of Lord Krishna. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast- It involves fasting without having a single drop of water. There are other ardent followers , who keep the fast for two days in the honour of Lord Krishna.

Chanting:
Devotees indulge in continuous chanting all day long. They chant mantras and shlokas to please the lord. Religious atmosphere prevails everywhere. Devotees highlight his feats and his divine characteristics. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples. Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna.

Staging of Plays or Dramas of Lord Krishna:
Plays depicting various events and accomplishments of Lord Krishna during his lifetime is another important custom during the festival. Both professional artists as well as amateurs stage plays at various places that are widely attended by devotees.

Sweets:
According to legend, Lord Krishna was very fond of milk and milk products like butter and buttermilk. He was also fond of Sweets like Kheer, Pedhas etc. Therefore devotees all over make sweets during the festival to please the Lord.

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Culture of festivities:

Tourism of Gujarat, takes the tourist on a journey across the light and sound of the birth of Lord Krishna, in the form of Janmashtami. Janmashtami celebrations are carried on in the town of Dwarka, situated in Gujarat, India. It is believed according to a legend, that the yadavs, the clan Lord Krishna belonged to, left the town of Mathura and settled down in the town of Dwarka for the betterment and further perpetuation of their clan. Dwarka, situated in Gujarat, India, is replete with temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and so when the festive occasion of Janmashtami comes along, the temples are all filled with decoration and pageantry which culminate with the midnight birth of Lord Krishna, who as a child is adorned with a crown and made to sit on a cradle. People visit Shankhoddhar Beyt in Dwarka, Gujarat, India. Other temples which are high on the list of the devotees are the temple of Shank-Narayan, dedicated to the Matsyavatar, the incarnation of Vishnu as a big fish.

Gokulashtami or Janamashtami is a special and very joyous occasion. All the major temples, including Dwarka and Dakor, specially dedicated to Lord Krishna are colourfully decorated on this day.Bhajans and Kirtans in these temples are the highlights of the day long celebrations. At the stroke of midnight, when Lord Krishna was born, the chants hailing Lord Krishna rend the air and the devotees go ecstatic.There are also live enactments of the scenes from his childhood specially. The Ras, introduced by Lord Krishna himself in, Gujarat, is performed in temple and homes. Men and Women both participate in this rhythmic and colourful folk dance.