Janmashtami

Practice

The temples of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh witness an extravagant and colourful celebration on this occasion. Raslila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. The image of the infant Krishna is bathed at midnight and is placed in a cradle, amidst the blowing of conch shells and the ringing of bells.

In Maharashtra, Janmashthami witnesses the exuberant enactment of the god's childhood attempts to steal butter and curds from earthen pots beyond his reach. A matka or pot containing these is suspended high above the ground and groups of young men and children form human pyramids to try and reach the pot and eventually break it.

Time: Janmashthami takes place on the eighth day of the waning moon, in the month of Shravan, in August / September.

Place: While Krishna's birth is commemorated practically everywhere in India, this takes the form of festivities in north India and Maharashtra.