Krishna Janmashtami 2024 | Date | Significance | Legend

When is Janmashtami and why is it celebrated?

By Intimate Viewpoint

Janmashtami is one of the major Hindu festivals. This year it is celebrated on the 26th of August i.e. Monday. It is celebrated on the 8th day of a dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha). That's why it is called Janmashtami. Janma means birth and Ashtami is the Sanskrit term for number 8. That is who was born on the 8th day of Krishna Paksha.

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Janmashtami marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Significance

In Janmashtami, in most places, Lord Krishna is worshipped in his childhood form. It is believed that those couples who do not have any child, by worshipping the child form of Lord Krishna, they are blessed with children.

The arrival of Lord Krishna is so sacred that all the evils are destroyed and purity spreads everywhere. It is believed that Lord Krishna was born to kill the demon king Kansa who was the killer of Shri Krishna's seven brothers and many other innocent sags and people. The festival of Janmashtami represents the history of good over evil and establishes Dharma in the universe.

The Legend 

According to the Hindu scripture, Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. His every incarnation was for the fulfillment of a specific purpose. His eighth incarnation that of Shri Krishna also occurred for the fulfillment of some special purpose, and the purpose was to kill the evil king who was also Krishna's maternal uncle. It is said that Kansa considered himself a god and used to kill anyone who worshipped Lord Vishnu. After killing Kansa, he killed many other Demons and protected innocent people. Not only this but later on, he led the warlike Mahabharat and gifted the entire Universe with a great scripture like Geeta.