Janmashtami Festival (2023) | Celebration | Significance and Legend

What is Janmashtami and why is it crucial in Indian culture?

By Intimate Viewpoint 

Celebrations 

Janmashtami is the most crucial festival in Hinduism. It marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Vishnu came to earth on this day in the form of Krishna to kill the demon King Kansha.

Though this festival is celebrated all over India especially it is celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan a city in Uttar Pradesh with great pomp because Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood and teenage.

Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated and observed on the 8th day of the dark fortnight (Ashtmi of the Krishna paksha) in the month of Shravan and in August-September in the Gregorian Calendar.

Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated in the Krishna and Vishnu Temples and at home. Temples and homes are decorated with flowers, garlands, and lights. Little cradles are placed both in the temples and homes in which the images of little Krishna are placed, this makes the day more special. Bhajans are sung, and Bhagavad Geeta is chanted many where. Worship and aarti are done after 12 midnight because it is considered the actual time of birth of Lord Krishna.

Significance and Legend 

According to the mythology, Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The main purpose of Lord Vishnu's coming to earth in the form of Krishna was to kill the demon King Kansha. Kansha was a cruel and tyrant king of Mathura. He used to kill the Men who worshipped Lord Vishnu. He considered himself almighty and a God. He also killed the seven brothers of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna was the 8th son of Devki and Vasudev. Devki was the younger sister of Kansha. Thus he was the maternal uncle of Krishna.

Krishna was sent to Vrindavan immediately after his birth to protect him from Kansha. There he was brought up by Yashoda and Nandlal. That is why, the whole world knows him as a son of Nandlal and Yashoda.

Krishna Janmashtami has great significance in Hindu mythology because this incarnation of Lord Vishnu gave the precious gift to the world "Bhagwat Geeta". Which gives knowledge of lies and truth, sin and virtue, and good and bad to every human being.

Lord Krishna led the biggest war in the world the war of "Mahabharata War" and gave the message that god is always with the good.