Depicting majestic religious fervour, Krishna Janmashtami is a religious Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. This festival falls on Ashtami, the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha as per the Hindu lunar calendar in the month of Shravana. As per the Gregorian calendar, it mostly falls in the month of August.
Lord Krishna is considered to be a widely-worshipped God in Hinduism. Considered as the supreme God, he is revered as a being full of compassion and love. There are innumerable stories, folklore, and anecdotes that showcase Krishna as a supreme being since his childhood.
One moment he is a prankster and a lover, and in another, he is a mighty king, a guru and a mentor. These various shades of his character are what makes his devotees fall in love with him.
The festival of Janmashtami, dedicated to him, is celebrated with great fervour in Mathura and Vrindavan, however, it is a pan-India festival and is celebrated all across the country in states like Delhi, Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India.
While Janmashtami is one of the most popular festivals across the nation, the Coronavirus pandemic might take a toll on the celebrations as most of the temples remain shut.
Lord Krishna was born in a time when the world was a chaotic place and freedom was denied to the people. Mother Earth was unable to handle the burden of sins which were committed by innumerable rulers and kings. So, according to the legends, Earth went to Lord Brahma to appeal for her safety and peaceful continuation of life. Lord Brahma, who is known as the creator of the world turned to the Supreme God, Lord Vishnu for his help who, in return, assured him that soon he will be born on the planet to get rid of all the evils.
Later, on the day of Devaki and Vasudeva’s marriage, a holy voice echoed through the sky prophesying that the eighth son from their marriage would be the cause of Kansa’s annihilation and will eventually end all the tyranny on Earth. Thus, Kansa, Devaki's brother, became vigilant and ensured that none of the couple's children lives. But he failed to do so and eventually was killed by their eighth son, Lord Krishna.
Kanha is also worshipped as Svayam Bhagavan. Did you know that he is the source of inspiration for various performance arts as well, such as Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, and Manipuri dance forms?
The psychedelic charm of Lord Krishna can be witnessed to the tee in places like Vrindavan, Jagannath, Odisha, Dwarka and Junagadh. The much-loved Lord has been given 108 names by his devotees such as Madhusudan, Navnitachora, Parthasarathi, Madhava, Yadhunandana, Nandalal, Radhaavallabha, Yogeshwara, Govinda and more, all being used in different places to worship him.
While he is being revered in India ever since the evolution of man, it was in the 1960s that his popularity gained momentum in the first-world countries as well. This has become possible mainly owing to the efforts of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).
1. Fasting and Jagrans. On this day, people indulge in fasting, praying, singing and sharing sweets with each other. The whole environment oozes bliss, celebrations and enthusiasm. People also participate in night vigils (jagrans), relishing in the bhakti of their lord.
2. Krishna Lila. In many temples, Krishna Lilas are organized depicting the life of Lord Krishna. People come to see and experience the way Lord Krishna used to be, especially, on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. There are processions, bhajans, kirtans, and Satsang that are organized at many places to celebrate the birthday of the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
3. Janamashtami Food. Krishna Janamashtami is celebrated with great fervour and there are many delightful delicacies prepared as well, on this occasion such as Malai Peda, Makhan Misri & Panjeeri, Shrikhand, Seedai, Murukku, Thatai, Vella Aval, etc.
Vrindavan is a hub of spiritual and cultural prominence. It is situated at an approximate distance of 183, 1,415, 1,532, and 2,177 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru respectively. Here is how you can travel to Vrindavan via the following means of transportation.
By Air. The nearest aerodrome is the Agra Airport and Kheria Airport located at an approximate distance of 50-100 km. It is advised to deboard at the Agra Airport, take a cab from outside to reach your respective destination.
By Train. Deboard at the Mathura Cantt Railway Station and take a cab or some public transport to reach your destination. From the station, you will need to travel 15-20 km to reach Vrindavan.
By Road. Vrindavan is also well-connected with other Indian cities via maintained motorable roads. You can consider travelling here by booking a private or an interstate bus, taking a cab or your own four/two-wheeler.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
11 August 2020
Vrindavan
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