When:
16th August
Where:
All Over India
Janmashtami is a wonderful festival that brings people together to celebrate faith, joy, and the victory of good.
Krishna Janmashtami is a very special Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna. In 2025, we will celebrate it on Saturday, August 16th. This day is full of joy, music, and colorful traditions.
The Story Behind the Festival
The story of Krishna's birth is like a miracle. Over 5,000 years ago, Lord Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura. His parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were locked up by their evil relative, King Kansa. Kansa was afraid of Krishna because he knew Krishna would one day defeat him.
On the night of his birth, a magical event happened. The prison guards fell asleep, the gates opened, and Vasudeva was able to take the baby across a river to a safe village called Gokul. There, Krishna was raised by his loving foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda. This miraculous escape and birth of Krishna is what we celebrate on Janmashtami. It's a story of hope and how good always wins over evil.
Why Do We Celebrate?
We celebrate Janmashtami to remember Lord Krishna's life and his teachings. He is seen as a very wise teacher who taught us about doing good things without expecting a reward. But he was also very playful! As a child, he was known as the "butter thief" because he loved to steal butter. As a young man, he played a magical flute that everyone loved to hear.
Celebrating his birthday is a way to feel that same joy and happiness. It reminds us to be good people and to find happiness in simple, fun things, just like Krishna did.
How We Celebrate the Festival
The celebrations for Janmashtami are full of beautiful rituals and fun activities.
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Fasting: Many people fast all day, which means they don't eat certain foods. They break the fast at midnight when Krishna was born.
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Decorating: Homes are decorated with flowers and beautiful cradles for a small statue of baby Krishna. People often draw little footprints from their front door to the prayer room, pretending that Krishna is walking into their home.
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The Midnight Ceremony: At midnight, the most important part of the festival begins. A small statue of baby Krishna is bathed in a special mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, and ghee. It's then dressed in new clothes and put in a decorated swing. People sing songs and gently rock the cradle.
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Dahi Handi: In some parts of India, especially Mumbai, people have a fun game called "Dahi Handi." Young men form a human pyramid to reach a clay pot filled with butter or curd that is hung high up. They try to break the pot, just like Krishna used to do when he stole butter with his friends.
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Feasting: After the midnight ceremony, everyone enjoys a feast. They eat special foods that are offered to Krishna first, especially sweets and dishes made with milk and butter, since those were his favorites.
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