Krishna Janmashtami in Mathura: How Janma Bhoomi celebrates his birthday

Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the Bhadrapad month. In Mathura Janmsashtami celebrations begin at the stroke of midnight as it is when Krishna is believed to have been born.

In Mathura, people stay up all night offering prayers and singing hymns and chanting songs praising Krishna Kanhaiya.

As per the rituals, it is belived that Krishna was born at midnight so the main event however is held at the actual location of Krishna’s birth which is now converted into a big Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir. The idol is kept in a room called Garbha Griha, it is given a ritualistic bath with milk and curd, dressed up in traditional clothes and placed in the cradle.

The cradle is then rocked while the devotees chant prayers and sing hymns. It is a popular belief that any wish made while the cradle is rocked, comes true on the day of Janmashtami.

One of the most important aspect of Janmastmi celebration is Raas Leela. The Krishna Leela, which is a skit with local actors enacting glorious episodes from Krishna’s life, is also performed around Mathura and other parts of north India

Celebration in Mathura begins a month before the day of birth. Thousands of temples in the city of Mathura is decorated.Two most important aspects of the Janmashtami festival celebrated here are Jhulanotsav and Ghatas. 

Jhulanotsov is the ritual where people put out swings in the courtyard of their houses and temples decorated with flowers and rangolis around to welcome Lord Krishna to their dwellings and to symbolize the cradling of the infant Krishna. 

Around the Ghatas of Mathura and in the days leading up to the Janma divas, Jankis are made, which are clay modeled figures on display wherein scenes depicting various stages of Krishna’s life are showcased all over the city.

Over 8 lakh devotees come to Mathura & Vrindavan every year to take part in the Janmashtami festival and to offer prayers and witness the grand celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. 

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