Krishna Jayanthi is a festival celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of Lord Krishna an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna was born in the prison of Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva as their eighth son. This incarnation of Vishnu is the most delightful and glorious of all his avatars. He was born at midnight and was carried across the River Yamuna to Nanda Gopal and Yashodha who brought him up. Krishna was born in the month of Shravana (August- September) on the eighth day of the dark fortnight and his birth falls on the star Rohini. Lord Krishna was born to kill the evil Kansa.
The Celebration of Krishna Jayanthi
The idol of Lord Krishna is placed in a swing and an aarthi (waving of lit lamps) is performed for him and in front of him. He is also offered delicious foods such as kheer, halwa, ladoos and other sweets and also butter. Then his praises are sung and in the background there will be ringing of bells and devotes shall be blowing conches. One fasts the whole day of his birthday and has food in the midnight after offering food to him. His idol is decorated and the whole house is decorated on the occasion with colorful flowers, rangolis and colorful garlands.
Temples are beautifully decorated on the birthday of Lord Krishna. The priest dresses up the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha and a lot of people come to the temple to take the blessings of the lord on the occasion of his birthday. The day is filled with song and dance as the epic has it that Krishna played the flute while the Gopikas sang and danced every evening. Lord Krishna was a very playful child who shepherded cows in the daytime and stole the hearts of women at night.
Establishing Dharma
Lord Krishna lived in luxury throughout his life so the occasion is celebrated with pomp and grandness by everyone. The real reason behind the celebration is the establishment of righteousness by Krishna on many occasions. He taught people not be scared and to fight injustice no matter who your opponent is. His teaching to Arjuna is the Bhagavata Gita which is a moral inspiration to many in today’s world. He killed demons one after another ever since he was born and killed the fear in the hearts of the people in the state. He established Dharma by fighting for the Pandavas in Kurukshetra and by winning the battle for them without lifting any weapons.
He was a person full of charm and treated everyone alike be they kings or farmers or soldiers. He lifted a hill to protect his people when Indra brought torrential rains when he was jealous of Lord Krishna. Considering all his super human tasks like hiding the sun, stopping the river from flowing, killing demons as a new born etc, he is like a super hero to one and all even till today. Lord Krishna remains closer to the people than their own kin and kith. Krishna was a dedicated lover, a wonderful son, a devoted disciple, an endearing friend and best of all a person whom people loved and still love.
Krishna Jayanthi is thus celebrated to share his feelings of love, equality and brotherhood. It is believed that even today is evil grows on earth too much Krishna will take a new avatar and put an end to that evil.
See Also
Baisakhi, Dussehra , Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Krishna Jayanthi