Short Essay On Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is considered to be the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The festival is celebrated annually on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Hindu lunar month of Shravan (July/August).
Krishna Janmashtami is a significant festival in Hinduism, marked by prayers, fasting, and devotional singing. In many parts of India, devotees spend the entire day in temples, participating in rituals and offerings to the deity. In the evening, the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. People decorate their homes with flowers, lights, and rangolis (decorative designs made with colored powder or flowers) to welcome the Lord.
One of the most important rituals of Krishna Janmashtami is the ‘dahi handi’ ceremony, which symbolizes the mischievous nature of Lord Krishna. In this ritual, a pot filled with curd, butter, and other sweets is suspended high in the air and young men form human pyramids to reach and break it. This is believed to bring blessings and good luck for the coming year.
In addition to religious observances, Krishna Janmashtami is also marked by cultural and social events such as plays, dance performances, and competitions. These events aim to spread the message of love, peace, and compassion taught by Lord Krishna in the Hindu scriptures.
Krishna Janmashtami not only holds religious significance, but also has a cultural and social impact on society. The festival brings people together, promoting unity, love, and peace. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the teachings of Lord Krishna and to strive towards a more harmonious and compassionate world.
In conclusion, Krishna Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna and is marked by religious observances, cultural events, and social gatherings. It holds immense significance for Hindus and provides an opportunity to reflect on the teachings of Lord Krishna and to strive towards a better world.
Short Essay On Krishna Janmashtami
Celebrating the birth of Hindu god Krishna, Janmashtami is a festive religious observance that marks the appearance of Lord Krishna in human form. Join us as we explore this special holiday and discover its significance in Indian culture and tradition. From the rituals involved to its history and legends, we will uncover everything you need to know about Janmashtami and its relevance for modern-day Hindus.
Introduction to Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The festival is observed according to Hindu luni-solar calendar, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravana. In 2019, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on 24th August.
Krishna Janmashtami is a major festival particularly in Mathura and Vrindavan, where Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood days. Devotees fast (upavasa) and stay up all night (jaagaran) singing bhajans and hymns in praise of Krishna. Homes are decorated with lights and clay lamps (diyas), flowers and banners. Temples are decorated with tilak on the forehead of Krishna statue, garlands, flowers and fruits.
A special feature of this festival is dahi handi, which is basically a human pyramid formed to reach a pot filled with buttermilk which is hung high above ground level. Once the pot is broken, everyone rushes to collect the buttermilk as it is considered auspicious.
The story behind celebrating Janmashtami goes like this – once upon a time there lived a demon king named Kansa who was told by an ast rologer that Devaki’s eighth son would kill him. So Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudev. On the night of Janmashtami, when Vasudev was taken out from the prison by Kansa’s guards to kill him, he took the newborn baby Krishna with him and crossed dangerous rivers and other obstacles to reach Gokul. Thus, Krishna was saved from Kansa and given a new life in Gokul.
History and Significance of the Festival
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. It is also known as Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini and Sri Krishna Jayanti. The festival is observed according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark half of Krishna Paksha in Shraavana or Bhadrapada. The festival always falls within August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
The celebrations of Janmashtami last for two days. The first day is known as Krishnashtami or Dahi Handi. On this day, devotees make an offering of yogurt (dahi) and butter (gur) to Krishna. They also make special dishes such as Makhan Mishri and Batasha Paneer Pakora.
The second day is known as Nandotsav or Nand-Grah Yatra when people celebrate by fasting and making processions to Nanda’s house with gifts for baby Krishna.
Janmashtami has great religious importance in Hinduism. It marks the end of the demonic king Kansa’s rule and heralds in the start of Lord Krishna’s rule. Lord Krishna was born at midnight on this auspicious day and thus it is also called ‘Midnight Birth’.
Rituals & Celebrations Associated with the Festival
Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. It is observed according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shraavana in August or September of the Gregorian calendar. The festival is widely celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan, where Krishna is believed to have been born, and across India.
On Janmashtami, temples and homes are decorated with lights and images of Krishna, and devotees stay up all night singing devotional songs and chanting mantra. Devotees also fast on this day, some for the entire day and some only until midnight when Krishna is believed to have been born. At midnight, temples hold special puja ceremonies during which devotees offer prayers, flowers and fruits to images or statues of Krishna.
Symbols of Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The festival is observed according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in Shraavana or Bhadra (months of August–September). This day coincides with Rohini Nakshatra.
The earliest mention of Janmashtami occurs in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, where it is described as a celebration in honour of Devaki and Vasudeva, parents of Krishna. The Skanda Purana, a Hindu religious text composed in about the 3rd century CE, further elaborates on the festival. In this text, Janmashtami is celebrated as the day when Vishnu took his eighth avatar as Krishna. The Skanda Purana states that Vishnu was born to Devaki and Vasudeva on this day, and that he took his first steps on earth on this day.
Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm. In Mathura and Vrindavan, where Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood, the festival is particularly grand. Temples are decorated with lights and flowers, and special pujas (rituals) are performed throughout the day. sweets and delicacies are prepared and distributed.
Symbols of Krishna Janmashtami include:
• Jhula (Swing): It symbolizes the swings that baby Krishna used to play in.
• Pots of Buttermilk: This represents the childhood prank by baby Krishna, where he would steal butter from neighbor’s homes while they were sleeping.
• Peacock Feathers: This is a tribute to Krishna’s beloved mount Garuda, who is often depicted with peacock feathers.
• Flute: This symbolizes the divine music played by Krishna on his flute, which attracted gopis (cow-herdesses) from all around.
• Holika Dahan: On the night of Janmashtami, a bonfire is lit to signify the victory of good over evil and commemorate the burning of Holika – the demoness who tried to kill young Krishna.
• Radha-Krishna Idol: The central focus of Janmashtami celebrations is an image or idol of baby Krishna with Radha.
How is It Celebrated?
Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. It is observed according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, on the eighth day of the dark half of Bhadrapada. Krishna Janmashtami is a major festival particularly in Mathura and Vrindavan, as well as in Manipur, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. In Kashmir valley too it is celebrated with great pomp and show.
The festival traditionally falls on the Ashtami tithi (eighth day), which in the Gregorian calendar falls in August or September. The specific date is announced annually according to the Hindu calendar and Panchangam much before the festival since devotees observing fast need to know when to break their fast. The date usually coincides with Rohini Nakshatra (star).
In 2019, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on 24th August.
Preparations for this festival begin a week in advance. Homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers and lights on this occasion. A special dish called ‘chappan bhog’ is prepared on Janmashtami consisting of 56 different kinds of food items including sweets which are offered to Lord Krishna.
On the day of Janmashtami, temples are decked up with flowers and traditional decorations. Devotees perform puja throughout the day and offer various food items to Krishna. Aarti is performed in the evening. People visit temples and sing devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Various cultural programs like dramas, plays, dances etc based on the life of Lord Krishna are also organised in many places.
Apart from puja, one of the most important traditions associated with Janmashtami is Dahi Handi or Govinda celebration where a large clay pot filled with butter or curd is hung high up in the air and teams of young people try to break it by forming human pyramids.
Conclusion
Janmashtami is an important festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all around India and in many other parts of the world by Hindus. The festival symbolizes devotion, love and surrender to God, which can be seen in people’s prayers, fasting, singing bhajans and writing essays on Janmashtami. May this beautiful festival bring immense joy to your life!
Manisha Dubey Jha is a skilled educational content writer with 5 years of experience. Specializing in essays and paragraphs, she’s dedicated to crafting engaging and informative content that enriches learning experiences.