Krishna Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna which is celebrated across India. It is also known as Gokulashtami or Janmashtami. According to the Hindu Calendar, this day falls on the eight day known as Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Sravaana.
This auspicious day is celebrated by keeping fast through out the day, performing dance forms of Ras Lila or Krishna Lila, praying, singing Krishna bhajans, preparing and sharing sweets till midnight when the Little Krishna was born. Some people continue bhajan or jagran through the night.
The next day is known as Gopal Kala or Nandotsav which is part of the Janmashtami celebrations. In Maharashtra, this day is known as Dahi Handi Day. The day is celebrated by breaking earthen pot of yoghurt which are hung up high by a rope in between two buildings at a level of second or third floors.
The big group of boys called ‘Govindas’ or ‘Govinda Pathaks’ climb over one another in a organised manner to form a human pyramid to break the Dahi Handi. While forming the pyramid, there are large number of people cheering the Govindas. You’ll find Govindas breaking Dahi Handis in every corner or streets/gullis of Mumbai and other cities. It’s a great celebration where cash prizes or trophies are offered to the Govinda Pathaks/Mandals who breaks the Dahi Handi.
The festival is celebrated across India in different ways. States which participates in the celebration includes Manipur, Assam , West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and other regions.
I have been celebrating this festival with my family and friends since my childhood. We do keep fast throughout the day, perform pooja, prepare naivedhya/sweets and celebrate Krishna Janma at midnight. The preparation of Krishna Janmashtami starts 1-2 days prior the festival by shopping beautiful clothes for Little Krishna.
Here are some photos captured during the shopping for Little Krishna in Geerja Shankar Puja Bhandar at Shivaji Chowk, Kalyan.
Enjoy these two days of Janmashtami. May Lord Krishna bless you all with lots of love, happiness and peace.
Happy Janmashtami 🙂
References:
1. Wikipedia – Krishna Janmashtami
magiceye
Lovely vibrant captures!
Sachin Baikar
Thanks Deepak ☺
Neeraj Kumar
Enchanting Snaps!
Sachin Baikar
Thanks Neeraj ☺
Pushkar Parnaik
Very nice info
Sachin Baikar
Thanks Pushkar 🙂
Harish Singh
Jai ho Kanhaiyalal ki 🙏🏻
Sachin Baikar
Jai Ho Murlidhar Gopal ki 🙏🏻
Thanks Harish 🙂
Jyotirmoy Sarkar
It was really very good to go through the write up on Janmastami, Nanda Utsav celebration breaking dahi handi have watched several times in movies, here in West Bengal it is celebrated in a different way.
Captures are very much apt with this post.
Sachin Baikar
Thanks for your appreciation Jyotirmoy 🙂
rupam { xhobdo }
Happy Janmashtami _()_
Beautiful pics.
Sachin Baikar
Thanks Rupam 🙂
Anagha Yatin
Vibrant and colourful! Thanks for a refreshing stroll in the market with your lens Sachin.
Sachin Baikar
Thanks for your appreciation, Anagha 🙂 I clicked these pics through my Sony Xperia XA1 mobile 🙂
Rupali
Festival mood! So colourful.
Sachin Baikar
Thanks Rupali 🙂
Jyoti
बहुत बढ़िया फ़ोटोज।
Sachin Baikar
धन्यवाद ज्योति जी 🙂
Anita
Great pics.
Belated Janmashtami wishes.
Sachin Baikar
I’m glad you liked the pics 🙂 Anita.
Thanks 🙂
dee Nambiar
Those shops look so festive. I can imagine the energy there, too. 🙂
Hope you had a good festival. 🙂
Sachin Baikar
Yes Dee, I had great time enjoying the festival with my family. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your comments ☺
Mridula
Good to know that you have been celebrating since childhood. How come no dahi handi pictures?
Sachin Baikar
Yes, I missed clicking Dahi Handi pics this year. We couldn’t go out as it was raining in my area. I’ll check if I can upload some old pics. Thanks for reminding ☺ Mridula.
Arti @ artisdiary
Lovely pics of the festivities! I also keep a fast every year, such a wonderful idea to capture the mood of shopping that is done in the midst of fasting!