Birthday of Krishna Date: August 22
Hindus celebrate Birthday of Krishna as a religious observance.
The birth of Krishna or Lord Krishna came as a blessing to humankind in their days of suffering. This “avatar” of Lord Vishnu was born to tame and destroy the devils and free human race from the dark days of torture and distress. The Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna, known as “Janmashtami” on the eighth day (Ashtami tithi) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shraavana with respect to their calendar.
Birthday of Krishna History
The Birth of Lord Krishna had noble reasons behind it. Mother Earth was tired of observing the agony of her subjects brought about by the barbarous rulers. In order to alleviate them from this suffering she approached Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma appealed to The Almighty Lord Vishnu to offer His help and annul this damage. In response to that, Lord Vishnu promised His birth as a human to eradicate evil from the earth. One such cutthroat emperor of that time was Kansha of Mathura. He was ill famous for the misery he bestowed on the people of his empire. The sufferers needed someone badly, who can exterminate his ferocious activities. That provoked the birth of Lord Vishnu as Lord Krishna in the womb of mother Devaki, the sister of Kansha.
After her marriage, Devaki and her husband Kansha imprisoned Vasudev when he received a prophecy from the sky that Devaki’s eighth child will be his nemesis. The very heartless Kansha in order to save his life killed every infant Devaki gave birth to. After Kansha murdered their sixth child, Devaki and Vasudev got a message from Lord Vishnu himself that he will be born as their eighth child but after his birth Vasudev needs to transfer him to Nanda’s place at Gokul and in exchange bring back the newborn daughter of Yashoda to Mathura. He also ensured Vasudev that on his way to Gokul, he would not be facing any hindrance whatsoever. After the birth of Vasudev and Devaki’s eighth child in prison, Vasudev obeyed Vishnu’s orders and miraculously went to Gokul and brought back Nanda’s daughter. Gokul was overjoyed the next morning when they saw Yashoda’s son. Krishna was thus fostered by Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul and he slayed Kansha in his youth and freed his parents from prison. After that, he abolished many brutal rulers to save humankind. Thus, history proves how eventful the birth of Krishna is, and his service to humankind is worth celebrating.
Birthday of Krishna Traditions and Activities
Janmashtami is celebrated all over India. According to Hindu traditions, just before the birthday of Krishna, i.e., on the seventh day, a fast should be performed followed by staying up the whole night somewhat awaiting the birth of Krishna. At midnight, the deity of Krishna is being bathed and worshipped.
The fast is completed with the ritual known as “Aarati”. Janmashtami is a colorful festival. Women draw small feet all across their floors to symbolize the movement of infant Krishna all over their place. In Maharashtra, they celebrate this birthday by playing the popular game in which men form a tower to reach and break a clay pot filled with yogurt (Dahi Handi) suspended from a wire at a considerable height. It boosts up the fun factor in the heart of everyone associated with the festival to welcome Krishna on his birth.
Krishna’s birthday celebration is intertwined with the love and affection the Hindu’s feel towards this savior , and every year they celebrate this day to express their gratitude towards him, emphasizing the euphoria that His birth bought about to their lives.
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