Here are some of the best places in India to experience Janmashtami and travel during the holiday.
One of the most popular Hindu festivals is Janmashtami, which is widely celebrated throughout India. In India, Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna and will be celebrated on August 19 this year. Krishna, one of the most famous Hindu deities, is considered the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Here are some of the best places in India to experience Janmashtami and travel during the holiday.
Mathura
Since it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura celebrates Janmashtami with great zeal. Two major holidays are celebrated here – Jhulanotsav and Gatas. On the holiday of Juhlanotsav, people hang swings over their Krishna idols in their homes. In a ritual called Abhishek, Krishna idols are bathed in milk, curd, honey and even ghee early in the morning (anointing). After bathing, the idol is dressed in new clothes and decorated, and then placed on a swing (julan). To commemorate the birth of Krishna, these swings are placed in the courtyards of houses and temples throughout Mathura. Statues of Krishna swing on them.
The practice known as “ghats” involves decorating city temples in a single colour scheme. Various temples hold pujas to celebrate the birth of Krishna. Notable attractions in Mathura include the Bihari Banks, Dwarkadhish, Krishna Janmabhumi Mandir, and an ISKCON temple.
Gokul
Gokul is the most important place associated with the upbringing of Lord Krishna because it was here that he spent his formative years with his adoring foster parents, Yashodha and Nanda. Gokul celebrates Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, the day after the rest of the nation because Krishna was brought there from Mathura after midnight. The day after Krishna’s birth, the people of Gokul learned of his existence and decided to celebrate his birthday on that day.
Radha Raman Temple and Radha Damodar are the two most famous temples for pilgrims in Gokul. Janmashtami Puja, the chiming of chimes, the blowing of shells and shells, and other religious and social activities define the celebration of Janmashtami. The Krishna deity bathes in curd, buttermilk and nectar after Sanskrit mantras and songs of praise are recited until midnight.
Vrindavan
Ten days before Krishna’s birthday, the Janmashtami festival begins in Vrindavan. One of the oldest temples in India is the Govind Dev Temple in Vrindavan. Another fascinating place is Nidhi Wan, a revered Krishna temple in the heart of a large forest. There are many Vana Tulsi (basil) trees in the park surrounding the temples.
There are over 4,000 temples in Vrindavan. All these people observe Janmashtami joyfully and passionately. This is what makes Vrindavan such a popular travel destination at this time of the year.
Mumbai
In Mumbai, the city of lights, the two most popular festivals are Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi. The Dahi handi ritual, in which a large number of people build a pyramid in order to reach and break a clay pot suspended high in the air, is performed by a number of dedicated groups. This is a re-creation of a fairy tale about Krishna’s childhood, which says that the kid broke such clay oil pots when he built pyramids with his friends. Worli, Thane and Jogeshwari host some of the best Dahi Khandi festivals. During Janmashtami, the ISKCON Juhu temple is a great place to visit because it celebrates Krishna’s birthday in a colourful way.
Kerala
Kerala celebrates the magnificent festival of Janmashtami. Palpaisam and appam, two special South Indian dishes, are prepared and served to Krishna. The main rituals and festive events are concentrated in the temple of Guruvayur Sri Krishna. Pujas and aartis are done at the temple during the day to start it off. Elephants from the Guruvayur temple accompany the procession with the golden idol of Balakrishna.
