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The festival of Janmashtami has many rituals and customs associated with it. Bringing out the true spirit of this festival, the rituals give you an insight to the meaning behind this Hindu festival called Krishna Janmashtami.
The ceremony of Janmashtami is very simple with the chanting of mantras as the priest bathes the idol with Ganga jal (holy water), milk, ghee, oil and honey. All these ingredients are poured from a conch shell. Once this Janmashtami ritual is over, the devotees break their day long fast.
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The most important time on the day of Janmashtami is midnight when Lord Krishna was born. On this day the temples and homes are decorated with jhankis depicting the important incidents from the Lord Krishna's life. Although this festival is celebrated with equal rejoicing all over India, it is in Mathura that the celebrations reach its peak.
The pious festival of Janmashtami begins by fasting from the previous day. This 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 midnight, the idol of the infant Krishna is bathed, placed in a cradle and worshipped.
On the morning of Janmashtami the ladies draw patterns of little children's feet outside the house with rice-flour paste, walking towards the house. This symbolizes the entry of the infant Krishna into his foster-home. This ritual of Janmashtami is quiet popular in the communities of South India. After all the rituals, morning prayers and worship the devout break their fast with Prasadam, food that has first been offered to the lord.
During the afternoon, the "Dahi-Handi" custom is celebrated in some parts of the deccan India. This is generally followed by lavish mid-day feast, where extended families customarily get together. Sweets made of milk and other dairy products, especially butter, are traditionally prepared on this occasion.
Enjoy this festival of Janmashtami with its different rituals, traditions, and customs and bring the blessings of Lord Krishna for your entire family.
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