Sri Krishna Janmastami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The festival falls on the eighth day (ashtami) of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) in the Hindu calendar. It is one of the most important and joyous occasions for devotees of Krishna, who consider him to be the supreme personality of Godhead.
The significance of the festival lies in the belief that Krishna descended to earth to protect dharma and destroy evil. He is also revered as a divine teacher, a playful lover, a compassionate friend, and a miraculous performer. His life and teachings are depicted in various scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The festival is an opportunity for devotees to express their love and gratitude to Krishna, and to seek his blessings for their well-being.
Different communities in Bengaluru celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami in various ways. Some of the common practices are:
- Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast on this day, abstaining from grains and legumes, and consuming only fruits, milk, and water. They break their fast at midnight, after offering prayers and food to Krishna.
- Chanting: Devotees chant the holy names of Krishna, such as Hare Krishna, Govinda, Gopala, etc., throughout the day and night. They also recite or listen to stories and songs about Krishna’s pastimes.
- Decorating: Devotees decorate their homes and temples with flowers, lamps, rangoli, and pictures or idols of Krishna. They also dress up their children as Krishna or his consort Radha, and enact scenes from his childhood.
- Offering: Devotees prepare various dishes with milk products, such as butter, curd, cheese, etc., as they are believed to be Krishna’s favorite foods. They also offer fruits, sweets, dry fruits, and other delicacies to Krishna. These offerings are called bhog or prasadam, and are distributed among the devotees after the worship.
- Dahi Handi: This is a popular sport that involves forming a human pyramid to break a pot filled with curd or butter that is hung high from a rope. This is inspired by Krishna’s mischievous act of stealing butter from the houses of cowherds in his village.
- Cultural Programs: Devotees participate in various cultural programs that showcase their devotion and talent. These include dance, drama, music, poetry, etc., based on themes related to Krishna.
Some of the special foods prepared during Sri Krishna Janmastami are:
- Kheer: A creamy dessert made with rice or vermicelli cooked in milk and sugar, flavored with cardamom, saffron, nuts, and raisins.
- Panjiri: A dry sweet made with roasted wheat flour or coriander seeds mixed with powdered sugar, ghee, nuts, and edible gum.
- Makhana Kheer: A rich pudding made with roasted fox nuts cooked in milk and sugar, garnished with nuts and saffron.
- Gopalkala: A savory dish made with flattened rice soaked in curd and mixed with cucumber, coconut, green chilies, cumin seeds, and salt.
- Rava Laddoo: A spherical sweet made with roasted semolina mixed with coconut, sugar, ghee, nuts, and raisins.
- Sabudana Khichdi: A spicy dish made with soaked tapioca pearls sautéed in ghee with ginger, cumin seeds, green chilies, potatoes, peanuts, and rock salt.
- Singhare ki Poori: A deep-fried bread made with water chestnut flour kneaded with ghee and water.
Some of the places one must experience during Sri Krishna Janmastami in Bengaluru are:
- ISKCON Temple: This is one of the largest temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in the world. It is located on Hare Krishna Hill in Rajajinagar. The temple attracts thousands of devotees on Janmastami who come to witness the grand celebrations that include abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the deities of Radha and Krishna with various auspicious items; arati (waving of lamps) accompanied by melodious kirtans (devotional songs); bhog (offering of 56 varieties of food); cultural programs; fireworks; etc. The temple also provides free prasadam (sanctified food) to all visitors.
- Sri Jagannath Temple: This is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath (another form of Lord Krishna) along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra. It is located in Kumara Park West in Seshadripuram. The temple celebrates Janmastami with great enthusiasm and devotion. The deities are adorned with splendid ornaments and clothes, and are offered various delicacies. The devotees also perform kirtans, bhajans (devotional hymns), and dances in the temple premises.
- Sri Krishna Temple: This is a serene temple dedicated to Lord Krishna located in Chennapatna, about 60 km from Bengaluru. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and has a peaceful atmosphere. The temple celebrates Janmastami with simplicity and grace. The deities are decorated with flowers and jewels, and are offered fruits, sweets, and milk products. The devotees also chant the names of Krishna and listen to his glories.
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