Krishna Jamashtami generally comes in the month of August every year. The festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) in Shravana month as per the Hindu calendar. This year Krishna Janamashtami will be celebrated on 14th August.

There are a number of legends behind celebration of the festival. According to the famous legend, Lord Krishna was born on this dark and stormy night so as to make an end to the atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa. Lord Krishna was the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu.

Celebration of Krishna Janamashtami

Krishna Janamashtami is a Hindu festival and is celebrated mainly in Northern part of India with great fervor and enthusiasm. Vrindavan and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh are the main places which are related to Krishna and this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in these places.

Devotees observe full day fast on the seventh day (Saptami) of Shravan month and visit temples to pay their obeisance to Lord Krishna. Prayers are carried out full night as it is believed that Krishna took birth in the midnight of Saptami and Ashtami.

Processions showing the life stories of Lord Krishna, which are called 'Jhankis' are carried out in different cities on trucks and a large number of devotees take part in these 'Jhankis'.

Krishna Janamashtami is also celebrated in South India by Iyengars which is known by the name of Sri Krishnajanamashtami or Krishnajayanthi.

Krishna Janamashtami in Maharashtra

The main attraction of Krishna Janamashtami in Maharashtra is 'Dahi Handi'. In this event a clay pot filled with buttermilk and curd is positioned at a certain height in a street, which is tied with a rope to the buildings located on both sides of the street.

'Dahi Handi' is then broken by a person standing on the topmost position of the human pyramid and buttermilk spills all over the people, which is considered as good sign for humanity and unity. Youngsters participating in the human pyramid are known by the name of 'Govinda', which is another name of Lord Krishna.