The Hindu holiday of Janmashtami, sometimes called Krishna Janmashtami, falls on August 26, 2024. It honours the birth of Krishna, Lord Vishnu’s eighth avatar. The celebration is held over two days, with the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada serving as the major day. On the major day, devotees pray and fast to get Krishna’s blessings. Celebrated as Gokulashtami or Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Janmashtami is a widely observed Hindu holiday in India and around the world.
Janmashtami 2024 Date
Gokulashtami, or Krishna Janmashtami, is an annual Hindu holiday honouring the birth of Lord Krishna. In the Gregorian calendar, it generally occurs in August or September, on the eighth day of Shravana. It will be observed on August 26th, 2024. For Hindus, this is a big occasion that is celebrated in many different ways including rituals, prayers, and festivities.
Janmashtami Traditions & Customs
- Hindus commemorate the holiday of Janmashtami according to a variety of traditions and rituals. To express their devotion to Krishna and ask for his blessings, devotees fast on this day, depriving themselves of food and liquids till the evening.
- To show their devotion to Krishna, they recite devotional songs called bhajans. Bhajans are performed with religious dances called kirtans. To worship Krishna, devotees go to temples or shrines and make presents and prayers.
- Some communities remember and encourage devotion by reenacting the birth of Krishna. To commemorate Janmashtami, special dishes like kheer, ladoos, and barfi are cooked.
- Hindus throughout the world rejoice on Janmashtami, a festival commemorating the birth of Krishna, a cherished god who is admired for his knowledge, kindness, and love.
History of Janmashtami
- The Hindu epic the Mahabharata mentions the celebration of Janmashtami, which has its origins in the early Vedic era. Fasting, chanting, and eating were observed during the event, which originated in Mathura in the second century BCE.
- It eventually extended to other regions of India, and by the tenth century CE, it was observed on a global scale. Hindu scriptures describe the birth of Lord Krishna as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the slayer of evil.
- The Bhagavad Gita and Bhagwat Purana describe his birth and his mother’s intention to have him killed. Since his birth, the eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada, known as Krishnapaksha, has been observed as Krishna Janmashtami.
- This year is Lord Krishna’s 5250th birthday, which is commemorated as a day to celebrate good triumphing over evil. It is said that Krishna was born on the eighth day, or Ashtami, of the Krishna Paksha, or dark fortnight, in the month of Bhadrapada.
- This corresponds to August or September in the Gregorian calendar. The historical veracity of Krishna Janmashtami’s birthdate is contested, nevertheless, because ancient texts and calendars do not line up exactly with contemporary dates.
- His birthday is not so much a chronological date as it is a spiritual and cultural celebration.
Significance of Shree Krishna Janmashtami
Hindus celebrate the birth of their cherished deity, Krishna, on Janmashtami. Krishna is sometimes portrayed as a playful youngster, but he is also recognised for his heroic acts. He is revered for his love, compassion, and knowledge. During this time, Hindus celebrate the triumph of good over evil and look forward to a better future by reaffirming their trust in Krishna and asking for his blessings.
Janmashtami Celebrations across India
- In India, people commemorate the birthday of Shri Lord Krishna, Janmashtami, with tremendous fervour. Shloka chanting, Raas Leela performances, fireworks, jhulotsava, and verse recitations from the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita at Hindu shrines are just a few of the festivities that take place throughout the festival.
- People have a particular place in their hearts for several locations in India, like Puri, Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Dwarka, Udupi, Imphal, Mumbai-Pune, and Odisha. Approximately 400 temples in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, are devoted to Him and are exquisitely decked throughout this season.
- Ten days before the birthday, Vrindavan, which is close to Mathura, commemorates the occasion. Gokul, the place where Vasudeva first saw Lord Krishna, commemorates the day with bell ringing, songs, and mantras.
- The ‘Janmashtami Utsav’ event lasts for a month in Dwarka, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and Mangal aarti is performed in temples all around the city. Additionally, Udupi, Karnataka, conducts dance dramas known as Vittal Pindi, in which gopuras are used to hang and break earthen pots filled with curd.
- A sizable contingent of worshippers visits the Mahabali Temple Sri Govindjee Temple in Imphal, Manipur, bringing flowers and seeing ethnic dance performances.
- Mumbai-Pune, Maharashtra, observes the day as Dahi-Handi, with contests to shatter a tall pot that is filled with fruits, yoghurt, milk, and water.
Conclusion
The Hindu festival of Janmashtami 2024 is observed over two days, with the main day falling on the eighth day of Bhadrapada’s dark fortnight, which honours the birth of Lord Krishna. Fasting, singing, dancing, and worshipping at shrines or temples are all practices of the devotee. Since its inception in the second century BCE in Mathura, the festival has spread throughout India, with Lord Krishna worshipped at temples located in Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Dwarka, Udupi, Imphal, Mumbai-Pune, and Odisha.
