The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapada/Shravana (based on Purnimanta /Amanta panchangs) in the Hindu calendar. Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Based on scriptural details and astrological calculations, the date of Krishna's birth, known as Janmashtami, is 18 July 3228 BCE and he lived until 18 February 3102 BCE. Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan of Yadavas from Mathura, and was the eighth son born to the princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva.
Mathura (in present-day Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh) was the capital of the Yadavas, to which Krishna's parents Vasudeva and Devaki belonged. King Kansa, Devaki's brother, had ascended the throne by imprisoning his father, King Ugrasena. Afraid of a prophecy that predicted his death at the hands of Devaki's eighth son, Kansa had the couple locked in a prison cell. After Kansa killed the first six children, and Devaki's apparent miscarriage of the seventh (which was actually a secret transfer of the infant to Rohini as Balarama), Krishna was born.
Following the birth, Vishnu ordered Vasudeva to take Krishna to Gokul to Nanda and Yashoda,where he could live safely, away from his Uncle Kansa. Vasudeva took Krishna with him and crossed the Yamuna to reach Gokul. There, everyone was asleep; so he quietly kept him there and returned with Yashoda's daughter. Kansa, thinking her to be Devki's eight child, threw her on a stone. But she rose into the air and transformed into Yogmaya (who is Vishnu's helper) and warned Kansa about his death. Then, she disappeared. Krishna grew up in Gokul with his brother, Balram. He then returned to Mathura and killed Kansa with the help of Balram.
Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, worshipping Krishna and staying up until midnight, and offer prayers at special time when Krishna is believed to have been born. Images of Krishna's infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. At midnight, devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. Some temples also conduct readings of the Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita.
Where Vaishnava temples exist, festivities begin before dawn and extend all day until midnight, the exact moment of the anniversary of Krishna’s appearance. Events include kirtan, singing the Lord’s name along with other devotees; and japa, private, more intimate prayer. Some devotees cook a feast of over one hundred dishes, while others perform drama and dance. Some clothe and decorate the deity of Krishna while others string enormous flower garlands and other decorations for the temple. Incense burns, scriptures are read, and all but the young and the infirm fast all day. The deities are also bathed with a variety of auspicious liquids in a kind of ablution ceremony called abhisheka. Sometimes taking over two hours, this is performed with great pomp.
Finally, at midnight, priests pull apart the curtains to reveal the freshly dressed deity of Krishna on a creatively festooned and colored altar. The excitement builds, and a rousing kirtan ensues.
All over India this day is celebrated with devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna. However, there are two places in India, where this festival is celebrated with an unmatched zeal and grandeur. They are Mathura and Vrindavan; the former being the birth place of Lord Krishna while the latter being the place he spent his childhood years. The celebrations that happen in these places are unique and people from all over the world gather to see the rituals and events and take part in the celebrations. Most devotees spend the day in Vrindavan witnessing the events and celebrations and go to Mathura in the evening to commemorate the birth of the lord.
Krishna Janmashtami festival is followed by the festival Nandotsav, which is the occasion when Nanda Baba distributed gifts to the community in honour of the birth. According to mythological stories, Sri Krishna was born in a prison in the custody of King Kansa. Lord Krishna’s father Vasudev, immediately thought of his friend Nand and handed over his child to his friend and saved his child’s life. Lord Krishna further grew up in Gokul and soon killed his uncle Kansa.
On this day, devotees have rigorous fasting and they should only have a single meal that to on the previous day. The devotees further also take a Sankalpa which is a one-day long fast which can be broken on the next day after Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami Tithi gets over.
People who fast on the day of Janmashtami are suppose to consume one single time meal and they are even suppose to take a Sankalpa which must be taken after finishing the entire morning rituals. Devotees have to observe one day long fast. This fast further breaks the next day after Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami Tithi gets over that is after sunrise.
Items required for Janmasthami Puja:
1. New clothes for Lord Krishna
2. Bansuri (flute), ornaments for Lord
3. Shankha – conch shell
4. Pooja thali which consist pooja ingridents
5. Ghata – bell
6. Diya – earthen pot
7. Chawal – rice
8. Elaichi – Caradamom
9. Supari – betel nut
10. Paan Patta – betel leaves
11. Mauli thread
12. Gangajal – sacred water
13. Sindoor – Vermillion paste
14. Agarbatti – incense sticks
15. flowers
16. Ghee
17. Sweets
If you are unable to visit Krishna Temples, then try to celebrate at home –Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita, “If you offer Me with love a leaf, flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”
• If you have Radha-Krishna deities, get extra beautiful new clothes for them. Be creative and pay special attention to decorating their sacred altar. Perform abhishekam (bathing ceremony) for your deities with yogurt, honey, ghee and bathe the deity with them while singing devotional songs.
• Have a midnight arati (worship ceremony) at home with a kirtan. This is the exact time that Lord Krishna appeared on earth, so it is most auspicious and spiritually inspiring. If you have a baby Krishna at home put Him lovingly on a cradle befitting the size of the idol and swing him slowly like you would treat your baby.
Many also chant ‘Vishnu Sahasranamam’, Krishna Stotra and other shlokas of the Lord. Sri Krishna Mahamantra and Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye Jaap has special significance on this day.
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