Why celebrate Janmashtami?
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna on the eighth (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September). When Krishna was born, Mathura was ruled by his maternal uncle, King Kansa, who wanted to kill his sister’s children because of an Akashvani, it was said in the Akashvani that the couple’s eighth son would be the cause of Kansa’s downfall (death). After the prophecy, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva and imprisoned them. He killed their first six children. However, at the time of the birth of their seventh child, Balarama, Miracle (yoga-maya) happen and shifted the child from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s womb. When their eighth child, Krishna, was born, the entire palace went into a sleeping state, and Vasudeva handed Krishna to Nanda Baba and Yashoda Maiya in Vrindavan. However, when King Kansa came to know about this, he tried several times to kill Bal Krishna when he was very young but every time his efforts went in vain. This festival is specially celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan. Let’s have a look how celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in Burhanpur.
Janmashtami in Burhanpur
Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Burhanpur. Children are dressed up as little Radha-Krishna and at the same time, the devotees gather in traditional clothes to celebrate Janmashtami. Then Bal-Krishna is anointed (Abhishekh) with water and milk, wears new clothes, and is worshipped. On the day of the festival, the Lord is decorated with flowers, leaves, and ornaments, lighting in the temples and houses, after Bhog is offered to Lord Krishna and distributed among all devotees. Along with this, they enjoy the festival by organizing dance, bhajan, Ras-Lila, etc. The major temples in Burhanpur are Shri Radhavallabh Temple, Gokulchandrama Temple, and Swaminarayan temple where Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety.
Dahi Handi in Burhanpur
Dahi Handi is organized in almost every locality in Burhanpur. Some of them are famous areas like Kamal Talkies and Lalbagh. A Dahi Handi filled with milk, curd, butter, fruits, and prize money is kept at a height. Teams of youth participate in Dahi Handi events so that they can perform their best to win Handi & honors and prizes. Handi filled with curd and butter are hung at crossroads at different places across the country. After this, Govinda climbs on top of each other and tries to break the Dahi Handi by making a human mountain (pyramid).
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