Krishna Janmashtami of Mathura: Shri Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu. According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is held every year on Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Bhadrapada month. Janmashtami also is popularly known as Gokul Ashtami, the festival of the mighty Lord. Dahi-Handi and Raas-Leela are the two main traditions of this festival.
Every year, Janmashtami is grandly celebrated in Mathura because, according to Hinduism, Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, which is sited at the Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex. Lord Krishna was born and raised at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Nandgaon, these are the major attractions of the festivities.
History & Significance Krishna Janmashtami of Mathura
Krishna is the son of Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi, and the day is celebrated as Krishna Janmashtami by Hindus. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is said to have been born in Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of Bhadrapada month, which coincides between August and September in the Gregorian calendar.
Krishna was born in a chaotic environment. It was a period when persecution was widespread, liberties were denied, evil was rife, and his uncle King Kansa was threatening his life. Immediately after Krishna’s birth in Mathura, his father Vasudeva Anakadundubhi sent him across the Yamuna to foster parents named Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul.
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Mathura is one of the Sapta Puri, the seven Hindu sacred towns, also known as Mokshyadayni Tirth. The Kesava Deo Temple (an underground prison) was erected on the place of Krishna’s birthplace in ancient times. Mathura was the capital of the Surasena empire, which Kansa, Krishna’s maternal uncle, ruled over.
Celebration of Janmashtami in Mathura
Mathura has its own significance and is so famous because numerous celebrations follow on this day, which begins from midnight and continues until dawn since Lord Krishna was born at the stroke of midnight.
On Janmashtami, devotees fast, chant devotional songs of love for Krishna, and stay vigil throughout the night to celebrate this story. Following Krishna’s midnight birth, sculptures of infant Krishna (Laddu Gopal) are washed and dressed before being put in a cradle. After then, the worshippers break their fast by exchanging food and sweets. Women leave little footprints outside their front doors and kitchens as a sign for Krishna’s trip into their houses.
On this day, people celebrate the birth of Makhanchor. Reading the Bhagavad Gita while rocking the cradle with an icon of infant Krishna within is one of the most significant practices. People chant sacred mantras like Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna on this day. Along with this, Raas Leela is performed by various teams of amateur artists Krishna and his gopis and Radha. Raas Leela is a popular tradition in Mathura, where it is celebrated by their local communities. These drama-dance shows start a few days before Janmashtami. Dahi Handi is also a famous ritual of Janmashtami celebration of Mathura which comes the next day or it.
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