Devotees brave rain, waterlogging, throng temples on Janmashtami

Thousands of devotees thronged at various temples and paid obeisance to the Lord Krishna on the occasion of Janmashtami despite heavy spells of rain and waterlogging all across the national Capital.

While hoards of people flocked in famous Krishna temples in Delhi like ISKCON Temple, Birla Temple as the evening came, the scene was quite similar in local temples also. Decorative lights from the temples when reflected on the droplets of rain and devotees offered prayers to Lord Krishna.

“My family is a devotee of Lord Krishna. I come here every year with my family. Sometimes, there is no space inside the temple as there are so many people already inside but we still come here because it is the biggest festival for me and my family,” said a devotee at ISKCON Temple.

Outside these temples, one could see children dressed as Radha and Krishna and other mythological figures popularly known as 'Jhankis' and hundreds following them as special processions were taken out from temples in different parts of the city. These processions saw participation of a large number of people despite rains.

“It comes once in a year and rains have become a regular thing now,” said a participant from one of the processions.

The excitement of these temples also resonated in residential areas when many people, especially children, on their own expenses made 'jhankis' and several other structures outside their houses to showcase their excitement.

“Do you remember that anecdote where Lord Krishna lifts a mountain to save people from rain? I have made the mini mountain from that story. It is made of cardboard and I have put some cotton on it which looks like snow. It took me about a week to make it. My mother has made 'halwa' which we will distribute to all our neighbours,” said a child from Vasant Vihar CPWD residential area.