Pic Janm01 Children dressed up as Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami
(26.08.2024)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Krishna Janmashtami/ Gokulashtami, celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth अवतार (Avatar, reincarnation) of Vishnu, on Ashtami tithi (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (waning or dark phase of the Moon) in Bhadrapad, corresponding to August/ September of the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated when monsoon retreats, fields are normally laden with crops and agrarian and rural communities have time to play.
The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu are Matsya, the first avatar as a Fish; Kurma the second avatar as part-tortoise and part-human form; Varaha the third avatar as a Boar; Narasimha the fourth avatar as part-lion, part-man; Vamana the fifth avatar as a dwarf Brahmin; Parashurama the sixth avatar as a man equipped with an axe; Rama the seventh avatar; Krishna the eighth avatar; Buddha the ninth avatar; and Kalki the avatar of tomorrow, in Kali yuga.
Janmashtami is celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan (B/Vrij Bhumi); and in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh; in Assam and Manipur; in Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal; in Gujarat and Maharashtra; in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana; and also in all other states of India; in Bangladesh and Nepal and by the diaspora.
B/Vraj language and region
Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word Vraja (व्रज), mentioned in Rigveda, meaning a pasture, shelter or resort for cattle.
B/Vraj Bhasha/Bhāṣā/Boli or B/Vraji is a dialect of Hindi, spoken in the B/Vrij Bhoomi (Pic Janm02), a region on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan, encompassing the area including Agra, Aligarh, Etah, Farrukhabad, Hathras and Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh; Palwal and Ballabhgarh in Haryana; Bharatpur and Deeg in Rajasthan; and Morena in Madhya Pradesh. Braj region is associated with Radha and Krishna who were born in Barsana and Mathura respectively.
Pic Janm02 Google Map of Brij Bhumi
Krishna is Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi's son. As with other Avatars, Krishna is born at a time when persecution was rampant, public was denied freedoms, there was evil everywhere, and there was a threat to Krishna’s life from his tyrant maternal uncle King Kansa.
Immediately after Krishna’s birth in Mathura, his father Vasudeva took him across the Yamuna, to Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul, who became his foster parents. In the process/ exchange, the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda, Yoganidra or YogaMāya (whose name is not known to most of us) is sacrificed.
There are regional variations of the celebration of Janmashtami, respecting the local folklore.
Krishna’s childhood is full of mischief and pranks - a माखन चोर (makhan chor, stealing curd and butter from maidens), hiding clothes of bathing girls, and so on. Accordingly, a large part of the celebrations are linked to such stories. Parents dress up toddlers and children as Krishna. (Pic Janm01)
There are Dance-drama enactments of the life of Krishna according to Bhagavata Purana (such as Rasa or Krishna Lila), devotional songs through midnight when Krishna was born, उपवास (fast), रात्रि जागरण (Ratri Jagaran, night vigil), and a festival (Mahotsav) on the following day.
Manipur has developed Manipuri classical dance [2] form, based on Vaishnav themes, which is like Sattriya, [3] and includes love-inspired dance drama of Radha-Krishna called Raslila. While dancers perform Raslila, youth play the Likon Sannaba game [4] in the Meitei Vaishnava community.
Pic Janm03 Manipuri Dance
Janmashtami is celebrated in Assam at home, in community centres called Namghars (Assamese: নামঘৰ), and temples. According to tradition, devotees sing the Nam, perform pujas and share food/ prasada.
The tradition of celebrating Krishna Janmashtami in eastern India is linked to the teachings of 15th and 16th century Sankardeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who developed philosophical ideas, and new forms of performing art to celebrate, such as Ankia Naat, Bhakti Yoga, Borgeet and Sattriya.
In the region around Puri and in Nabadweep, West Bengal, people celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and worshipping till midnight. The Bhagavata Purana is recited from the 10th chapter, which is dedicated to the life of Krishna. The next day is called `Nanda Utsav’ the joyous celebration of Krishna's foster parents Nanda and Yashoda.
Pic Janm04 Temple in Odisha lit up for Janmashtami
Ganga Jal (water from river Ganges) is brought to bathe Radha Madhava (Krishna) during the abhisheka ceremony. A grand abhisheka is performed at midnight for small Radha Madhava Deities, while food (bhoga) of more than 400 dishes is offered to the deity with devotion.
Pic Janm05 Human pyramid trying to reach Dahi Handi
Dahi Handi is a Janmashtami tradition in Mumbai and Maharashtra, when Tolis (groups) get-together and break the Dahi Handi, which is hung at a height in order to make it difficult to reach. Girls surround these boys, cheer and tease them while dancing and singing. Several `dahi-handi’ events are organized on Janmashtami in Mumbai, the most popular of them being - Girgaon, and Dadar, Lalbaug, Lower Parel and Worli.
In Dwarka, Gujarat – where Krishna established his kingdom, celebrations have a tradition similar to Dahi Handi, called Makhan Handi (pot with freshly churned butter). They also perform folk dances at temples, sing bhajans, visit Krishna temples such as Dwarkadhish or Nathdwara. [5] In Kutch district/ region, farmers decorate bullock carts for Krishna processions, with group singing and dancing.
In northern states, Janmashtami is celebrated in the Raslila tradition. This could be solo or group dance or drama events, wherein Krishna related compositions are sung, music accompanies the performance, while actors and audience share and celebrate the performance by clapping hands to the beat.
In the Jammu area, kite flying is part of the celebration on Krishna Janmashtami.
Pic Janm06 Uppu Seedai
In Tamil Nadu, people decorate the floor with kolams (decorations with rice powder). Geetha Govindam (authored by Jayadeva) and other devotional songs are sung in praise of Krishna. They also draw footprints of Krishna from the entrance of the house till the pooja room, the path of his arrival in the house. The offerings made to Krishna include fruits, betel and butter. Savouries believed to be Krishna's favourites like Seedai, Sweet Seedai, Verkadalai Urundai are prepared.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, [6] there is recitation of shlokas, and devotional songs are sung. Variety of fruits and sweets are first offered to Krishna and after puja, are distributed among devotees/ visitors. Eatables along with milk and curd are prepared for offering to Krishna.
Popular south Indian temples dedicated to Krishna are Rajagopalaswamy in Mannargudi, Tiruvarur district, Pandavadhoothar in Kanchipuram, Sri Krishna in Udupi, and Krishna in Guruvayur. Legend says that the Sree Krishna Idol installed in Guruvayur was brought from Dwarka, which submerged in the sea.
In Nepal, Hindus celebrate Krishna Janmashtami by reciting Bhagavad Gita and singing religious bhajans and kirtans. The Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Krishnamandir, and other temples dedicated to lord Krishna are centres for festivities on Krishna Janmasthmi. Krishna temples are decorated and shops, posters and houses carry Krishna motifs.
In Bangladesh a procession starting from Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, the National Temple of Bangladesh proceeds through the streets of Old Dhaka. The tradition dates 1902, which was stopped in 1948 but resumed in 1989.
Indian origin population of Fiji who were taken as indentured labourers by the British for sugar cane cultivation as `Girmit’ (bonded labour), now settled in Fiji also celebrate it as Krishna Ashtami.
A song in praise of Krishna -` ओ पालनहारे (O Palan Haare)’
ओ पालनहारे [7]
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
हमरी उलझन, सुलझाओ भगवन,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
तुम्ही हमका हो संभाले,
तुम्ही हमरे रखवाले,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
चन्दा में तुम्ही तो भरे हो चांदनी,
सूरज में उजाला तुम्ही से,
ये गगन है मगन,
तुम्ही तो दिए हो इसे तारे,
भगवन ये जीवन,
तुम्ही ना संवारोगे,
तो क्या कोई सँवारे ।
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
जो सुनो तो कहें,
प्रभुजी हमरी है बिनती,
दुखी जन को, धीरज दो,
हारे नहीं वो कभी दुखसे,
तुम निर्बल को रक्षा दो,
रह पाएं निर्बल सुख से,
भक्ति को, शक्ति दो,
भक्ति को, शक्ति दो,
जग के जो स्वामी हो,
इतनी तो अरज सुनो,
हैं पथ में अंधियारे,
दे दो वरदान में उजियारे ।
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
हमरी उलझन, सुलझाओ भगवन,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
हमरी उलझन, सुलझाओ भगवन,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं,
हमरी उलझन, सुलझाओ भगवन,
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं ।
ओ पालनहारे,
ओ पालनहारे…
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09),
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been writing/ sharing varied topics and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] Some of us would have seen/ collected Manipuri dance dolls, in our showcases. These dolls are normally not used to play.
[3] Sattriya (Assamese: সত্ৰীয়া), or Sattriya Nritya, is a major Indian classical dance. It is a dance-drama with origins in the Krishna-centred Vaishnavism monasteries of Assam, attributed to the 15th century Bhakti movement scholar and to saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.
[4] Likon Sanaba is a traditional game played/ practiced for centuries, when young boys played opposite girls to profess their love to each other. Now, 'Likon Sanaba' has become rare and is practiced in some places and on some occasions.
[5] Nathdwara Temple is in Rajasthan, close to Udaipur.
[6] The state of Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014. Traditions, language, culture, festivals of the two states are, however, similar.
[7] O Palan Haare lyrics in Hindi from the movie Lagaan sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan. Lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar and music composed by A. R. Rahman.
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