Jammashtami is a very colourful festival and I am fascinated by the whole story behind it. I use to watch the entire Krishna janam on television. My mother had narrated the entire story to me when I was very small and from that time I use to always wait to watch the entire celebration on televison. The story was very interesting.
I remember waking up early in the morning to see the entire procession that followed before the handi was broken in our society. I loved watching the enthusiasm in people as they came and built a pyramid in matter of few seconds right before my eyes and the zest they brought along with them before breaking the handi.
Lord Krishna is believed to have been born during midnight amidst heavy rains around 5000 years back in Dwapur Yug. The festivity of Janmashtami reaches its peak at this time. During midnight, Lord Krishna is welcomed by blowing of Shankh (conch), arti performed by pujari (brahmins) of the temple. The temple echos with slogans like Jai Shri Krishna. Devotees shower flowers on the idol of Bhagwan Krishna. This is followed by the ceremony of giving holy bath to lord Krishna with Panchamrit - A mixture of gangajal, honey, sugar, ghee and curd. This mixture is later distributed as prasad' among the devotees. Cleaning of the Lord, is followed by offering food to him. While some temples offer what is known as Chappan bhog - an offering of 56 dishes to Lord Krishna, other temples offer as much as 108 dishes to Lord.
Rocking of Lord Krishna's cradle is another important ceremony of the midnight celebration that I remember. It is believed that anyone making a wish while rocking the cradle is granted it. Devotees pour in the temple from all over to welcome their beloved Bal Gopal. Birth of Lord Krishna takes place amidst singing of devotional songs in praise of the Lord. This continues for a period of 1-2 hours.
Even this time I wished I could see this entire process but I was busy shooting so I missed it, but I definitely wish to be a part of it next year!
I remember waking up early in the morning to see the entire procession that followed before the handi was broken in our society. I loved watching the enthusiasm in people as they came and built a pyramid in matter of few seconds right before my eyes and the zest they brought along with them before breaking the handi.
Lord Krishna is believed to have been born during midnight amidst heavy rains around 5000 years back in Dwapur Yug. The festivity of Janmashtami reaches its peak at this time. During midnight, Lord Krishna is welcomed by blowing of Shankh (conch), arti performed by pujari (brahmins) of the temple. The temple echos with slogans like Jai Shri Krishna. Devotees shower flowers on the idol of Bhagwan Krishna. This is followed by the ceremony of giving holy bath to lord Krishna with Panchamrit - A mixture of gangajal, honey, sugar, ghee and curd. This mixture is later distributed as prasad' among the devotees. Cleaning of the Lord, is followed by offering food to him. While some temples offer what is known as Chappan bhog - an offering of 56 dishes to Lord Krishna, other temples offer as much as 108 dishes to Lord.
Rocking of Lord Krishna's cradle is another important ceremony of the midnight celebration that I remember. It is believed that anyone making a wish while rocking the cradle is granted it. Devotees pour in the temple from all over to welcome their beloved Bal Gopal. Birth of Lord Krishna takes place amidst singing of devotional songs in praise of the Lord. This continues for a period of 1-2 hours.
Even this time I wished I could see this entire process but I was busy shooting so I missed it, but I definitely wish to be a part of it next year!
No comments:
Post a Comment