Rituals and celebrations

The birth of Lord Krishna, the seventh avatara of Vishnu is celebrated as Janamasthami around the country. The day is marked by fasting, feasting, dancing and the singing of devotional songs and hymns in temples and homes around the country. The temples of Mathura and Vrindavan are major attractions where people from around the country join in the celebrations. The colourful custom of performing Raslila (a unique dance form) to commemorate the eternal love between Krishna and Radha, carries on to this day.

At midnight, idols of Lord Krishna are bathed in temples and homes amidst the blowing of conch shells and the ringing of bells. Most homes are lit up with lamps and the entire atmosphere is one of joyous celebration. Another important aspect of the festival is the Jhanki . This is an interesting spectacle in numerous homes where entire worlds are recreated out of toys and figurines, flowers and leaves.

The place of pride in the jhanki is an idol of baby Krishna. This is placed on a cradle, which is rocked to recreate scenes from Krishna's infancy. Janamasthmi is celebrated by recreating scenes from the Lord's childhood when Krishna used to steal butter and curds from earthen pots, which were way beyond his reach. The belief followed from generations is that anyone who with shradha (devotion) makes a wish and rocks the cradle in which the Lord is, his or her wish would surely be granted on this special day.

It is in this spirit, that we would like to bring you closer to all the celebrations, and make our esteemed visitors participate in the festivities. We will be taking you to a household in Bangalore, where each year tradition is followed, and a sense of joy, a feeling of devotion and the life of the divine are brought back to light. As you enter, the sweet scent of incence sticks and stong smell of fresh jasmine greets you, folded hands and the powerful Swastika and Om signs all decorated in blue, silver, gold rangoli welcomes you.

The atmosphere is charged up, bhanjans (devotional songs) play slowly in the background while there is a spring in each one's step and a song in the heart, there is a song of praise for the lord and a wish on each ones lips, well that’s the beauty of this special day, and it is for this reason that every year, many friends, relatives and anyone who believes in the power of the lord, pays a visit and swing the cradle in which the beautiful and generous Krishna listens to each one. One can feel powerful vibrations and peace that descends onto the heart, well its so true and pure, and very much like a mother and child, so lets all take a step closer to the jhoola (swing) and make a wish.

As each one moves on, the eyes brighten up, and mind opens, yes opens to the cute and colorful dolls, from dancing gopikas to celebrating villagers, from small huts to the pond besides the lawn, all of it is recreated in real life almost giving us a feeling that they are right there, and bringing back memories to how one thought life was when we watched the Ramamyan or Mahabharat on the television, well every little detail is presented depending on the theme of the background, in the pictures we show you here, the entire episode of how Vasudev takes the divine child from the dark and terrible jail, through the storm and thunder, is depicted through models specially created and decorated, pichkaris slightly above on the walls make it an even more picturesque experience.

Well if you thought that's all for now, and you would have to get back home well you could be wrong because just then one of the hospitable family members comes along and  gives you some refreshments and asks you to participate and sing a bhajan or two for a professional would be starting to sing in a few minutes you now get a chance to close your eyes and hum along to the harmonium.

Well after singing to your satisfaction, after listening to your heart you can now can take another look at the Lord smiling at you, then as you make your way out, you can watch the glitter of the intricate designs done in Rangoli style, or can watch the lotus flower in the center of the pond, and in the bright and exciting atmosphere, come out energized and hope the generous Lord Krishna has heard you.

It was a pleasure bringing you closer to the festivities, and hope you enjoyed the experience as we enjoyed sharing this enthralling experience.

We now wish you a HAPPY KRISNA JANMASTHMI and may all your wishes be heard and may all your dreams come true thank you for being with us and mail your suggestions  to festivals@virtualbangalore.com, thus enabling us to serve you better.

Spiritual Significance

Krishna janamastami is the celebration of the birthday of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is the first Prince of Satyug or the Golden age. He is the purest and most elevated of human beings possessing a pure body and pure soul and whose purity is 16 celestial degrees.

Krishna is worshipped by Hindus as an incarnation of divinity with qualities and attributes equal to that of the Supreme Soul. In the path of bhakti or devotion and as written in Hindu mythology, krishna was the eighth son born to Vasudeva and Devaki but was switched with the Yogamaya daughter of Nanda Maharaj and Yashoda. This switch was necessary as Kamsa was advised that the eighth son of Devaki would kill him. Baby Krishna was secretly exchanged and was subsequently raised with the Gops and Gopes in Gokula. During his early childhood, krishna performed extraordinary acts destroying many powerful demons even as a baby. He was said to be very playful even to the embarrassment of the affectionate gopes. He is always portrayed as youthful and playing the "basuri or murli" and He is also said to have had 16108 Queens. These myths even said he stole butter.

But the Lord Krishna as the main character in the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. This holy Gita is accepted by Hindus as the mother of all Scriptures. Many get sustenance and salvation by studying the Gita and living the life according to its elevated shrimat or Godly directions. A simplistic summary of the Gita is the discourses of divine advice given to Arjuna, advising how to live the life of a householder and yet live a life of purity. Out of 18 chapters [in 700 slogas] Krishna spent the six chapters of Gita teaching Arjuna the essence of Karma yoga, the second six chapters about Bhakti yoga and the final six chapters about Gyana yoga. Finally, he explained to Arjuna the gyana yoga or yoga of knowledge leads to renunciation.