To mark Lord Krishna’s birth, city temples to hold 2-day celebration

MUMBAI: Forty minutes after midnight on the eighth day of Shravan Krishnapaksh approximately 5,500 years ago, a miracle child was born in the prison of Mathura. Lord Krishna, who was saved from the evil designs of his own maternal uncle on the night of his birth, became the saviour of mankind who gave the world the life lesson of the Bhagwad Gita. Devotees will ring in the birth of this eighth avatar of Vishnu at Janmashtami. The Smarta sect will celebrate on Sunday midnight while the Vaishnav community will do so at the same hour on Monday. Far removed from the competitive frenzy of dahi handi, Janmashtami in temples and individual homes is replete with meaningful ritual. Devotees take turns to rock the cradle as they sing the aarti.

ISKCON temple, Chowpatty, has devised a backdrop of Rajasthani art, murals, palace scenes and origami made by children and adult devotees. Spokesperson Lucky Kulkarni said, “The organic flowers used in decorations will be composted after four days. We have also set up a 500 kg bio gas plant to process wet waste generated during the festival. A full array of sweets, savouries and vegetables, rice dishes and juices is being prepared for the three-day celebration. For the Maha Bhog, more than 1,008 items like barfi, halwa, faral items and juice will be offered to the deity. More than 3,000 kgs of varai halwa prasad will be distributed to devotees September 2 and 3.”

Meanwhile, the Hare Krishna Movement (HKM) in Powai has invited children to a Krishna Carnival on Sunday. Media coordinator Dheer Gopal Das said, “We have devised games surrounding the pastimes of Krishna. For instance, children will be blindfolded and handed a stick to break the handi dangling overhead. In another target game, they are expected to ‘Aim for Go-loka’, if they miss they land up in Paatala. One game called ‘Smash the Negative Values’ encourages them to strike out all negative traits.” HKM will also host a painting competition, shloka recitation, costume contest and kirtans. Children will demonstrate their learning from the Vedas.

Dwarkadhish Haveli in Vile Parle pampers the deity just like a child celebrating a birthday. “We wake him with pleasant sounds, bathe him with panchamrit, apply tilak, read his horoscope to him, dress him in saffron robes and offer delicacies and toys,” said spokesman Ketan Joshi. This Pushtimarg shrine will observe a vibrant Nandotsav on Tuesday by showering devotees with curd, milk and butter drawn from the holy pot.