Krishna Janmashtami, Gopalkala

Krishna Janmashtami also known as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami , is an annual Hindu festival. Krishna was born in Mathura in the Rohini Nakshatra at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Shravan , and hence it is customary to celebrate this day with joy.

Krishna , the eighth incarnation of Vishnu , was born in the month of Shravan according to the Hindu luni-solar calendar ; the festival falls in August or September of the Gregorian calendar.

It is an important festival in Hinduism, particularly in the Vaishnava sect. According to the Bhagavata Purana, the Janmashtami festival includes dance-drama based on the life of Krishna (such as Ras Leela or Krishna Leela), midnight devotional singing, fasting, worship, night vigils, and a festival the following day. The festival of Nandotsav is celebrated after Krishna Janmashtami. It is a festival commemorating the distribution of gifts by Nanda to the people in honor of his birth.

Importance-                                                                                                                                              Stone statue of Krishna being carried across the river by Vasudeva Anakadundubhi Vasudeva carrying Krishna across the river Krishna is the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. His birthday is celebrated by Hindus as Janmashtami. Krishna is considered the supreme god, especially in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. According to Hindu tradition, Krishna is believed to have been born in Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada . Janmashtami is celebrated on this day (August and 3 September in the Gregorian calendar).

Krishna was born in a land of chaos. It was a time when persecution was rampant, people were denied freedom, evil was everywhere, and his life was threatened by his maternal uncle, King Kansa. Soon after his birth, Krishna's father Vasudeva Anakadundubhi took him across the Yamuna from Mathura to Gokula to be raised. Vasudeva's brother Nanda and sister-in-law Yashoda were Krishna's guardians. Along with Krishna, his elder brother, the serpent Balarama, also came to earth as an incarnation, the son of Vasudeva's first wife Rohini. This legend is celebrated on Janmashtami by fasting, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna, and keeping vigils at night. After Krishna's birth at midnight, the infant form of Krishna (Baal Krishna) is bathed, dressed, and then placed in a cradle. The devotees then break their fast by distributing food and sweets. Women make small footprints outside their doors and kitchens and walk towards their homes. This symbolizes Krishna's journey to their homes.

In various regions of India-                                                                                                                      The festival is celebrated throughout India. It is celebrated especially in Mathura and Vrindavan, as well as in Manipur, Assam , Bihar , West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan , Gujarat , Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala , Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, where Vaishnava and non-sectarian communities are found. It is also celebrated in all other states of India and in Umerkot, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and throughout Sindh in Pakistan.

It is celebrated on a large scale in places like Gokul, Mathura , Vrindavan , Dwarka , Jagannath Puri, and many other places that have temples that are characteristic of the Vaishnava sect. In Orissa, the Dahi Handi Jatra or Dahi Bhanga Jatra is celebrated on this day. It is customary to fast on Gokul Ashtami. In Gujarat , people bet money on the seventh day of 'Satam' or Saptami or play cards all day long. At midnight, the cards are closed and the celebration of Krishna's birth begins.

Rasleela picture-                                                                                                                                         In Madhya Pradesh and many parts of northern India, the Panchang with the full moon month is used, and this day falls on the eighth day of Bhadrapad . On this day, many people celebrate the birth anniversary by creating a scene of Gokul-Vrindavan in their homes. Vaishnavites observe this day with special devotion. Dolotsav is celebrated on this day in Vrindavan. On this day, an important concept in the life of Krishna , the Raslila, is presented.

In Manipur , Krishna is worshipped at night by fasting all day. Special pujas are held at Hanuman Temple and Govindji Temple, fairs are held, and people enjoy the festival.

Fast- Main article: Fasting-                                                                                                                       On the eighth day, they bathe with white sesame seeds and take a bath. They make a vow and decorate the temple of Devghar with Lata Pallavani. They establish a Sutikagriha for Devaki at that place. They establish idols of Devaki and Krishna on the stage. On the other side, they place idols of Yashoda and her newborn daughter, Vasudeva, and Nanda . At midnight on the seventh day, they purify themselves and make a vow and perform the sixteen auspicious pujas of Shri Krishna with their family . They wake up with programs like Katha, Purana, dance, songs, etc. at night. They fast on the eighth day and also offer offerings of fruits to the god. On the ninth day, they perform Panchopachar and offer the Mahanaivedya. The actions after the puja are described in the Agni Purana. They are as follows: 'After worshipping in this way, one should praise the Lord with the Purusha Sukta , Vishnu Sukta and other hymns. One should spend the night listening to the sound of musical instruments, the auspicious tones of songs, and various stories from the Puranas and histories. After listening to the pastimes of Krishna's birth in Gokula, Vaishnavas should sprinkle curd etc. on each other. Because it is said in the Bhagavatam that 'the cowherds sprinkled and smeared each other with curd , milk , ghee , and water', from which such a ritual is derived. Krishna is offered prasad by mixing butter and sugar.

Gopalkala/Dahihandi-                                                                                                                                  The special prasad prepared for the festival is called Gopalkala . Krishna Jayanti is celebrated all over India. In Maharashtra, especially in Konkan , on the second day of this festival, Dahikala is celebrated and the fast is broken by consuming it. Singing the song Govinda aala re aala. Gokulat anand jala, many men, young and old, go from house to house and dance and break the dahi handi. In many places, there is a practice of bringing scenes from Krishna's life by performing Gopalkala. On this day, in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, a daring game of 'Govinda' is played by placing a pot filled with curd and milk in a high pot and reaching it from a human tower and breaking the pot. This is a Vaishnava dance festival in Maharashtra. There is a story that while Lord Krishna was grazing cows in Vraja Mandal, he collected the food of himself and his brothers, made a kala of the food and ate it with everyone. According to this story, on the day of Gokulashtami, it is customary to make a decorated pot of clay, tie it high with a rope, and break the dahi handi by forming human towers. The Govinda team that breaks the pot to the highest height is given an attractive prize. At this time, songs, dances, various programs are performed and a large crowd of spectators gather with joy.

Gopal means the cowherd Krishna, who is offered the Kaliya Prasad on this occasion of his birth. Kala means to gather together. A food made with poha, jowar lakhya , paddy lakhya, lemon and mango pickle , curd , buttermilk , soaked gram dal, sugar , fruit slices, etc. It is believed that it was very dear to Krishna . It is believed that Krishna and his brothers used to prepare it on the banks of the Yamuna and share it. In Gomantaka, this Kaliya is called Gavalankala. This Kala is performed by the local artists. In it, a girl is dressed as Krishna and sings the songs of Krishna Leela. Finally, Dahi Handi is broken by Krishna. This Gavalankala is performed after the Dashavatari Kala game or after the chariot festival of the temple.