Birla Mandir in Delhi Lit up on the Occasion of Krishna Janmashtami

Delhi citizens on the occasion of Janmashtami, fasted and feasted undeterred by the humid weather and also prayed at many of the temples has been brightly decked to mark the festivities. People of all ages flocked to the temples all of which were decorated with flowers, banana leaves as well as colorful fancy lights. The entire gamut of the celebrations was centered on the popular temples such as that of Birla Mandir in central Delhi.

Outside the temples, one could come across many stalls which were busy in serving fresh fruit for the devotees. Shobha yatras or the religious processions and cultural programs have also been planned as part of the Birla Mandir celebrations later in the day.

Lit up in fancy lights, elaborate tableaux displayed the birth of Lord Krishna. You could also come across children dressed like Krishna as part of the Birla Mandir celebrations with a peacock feather which has been stuck on their headbands and flutes in their hands. The two milk delicacies of Panjiri and Panchamrit along with fresh fruit are the two common prasadams which were served to the devotees.

Janmashtami in India is celebrated by singing of bhajans or devotional songs and also by the chanting of mantras which resound in all of the temples the whole day while the devotees pour in large numbers to pray to Krishna and his consort Radha. Legend tells us that it was midnight when Lord Krishna was born and it is during this time that the festivities peak. At midnight the priests with regards to the Janmashtami in India perform the "Mahabhishekha" which is an offering of a mixture of water and milk over the deity. It is at this time that the sounds of the ringing of bells and the blowing conches which fill the air.

There are many people in India who bathe a small idol of Lord Krishna in curd, milk and water from the Ganga along with ghee and honey before it is finally placed in a cradle at home. It is after that sweet is prepared at home. The markets at this time are also doing brisk business as people shop for flowers, sweets, decorative items, milk and curd which they will be offering at the temples.

The youngsters during the celebrations of Janmashtami in India take part in the ritual of the matka phod. It is a ritual in which the breaking of earthenware pots which have been previously filled with buttermilk so as to celebrate Krishna’s love for butter and milk, which he is considered to have stolen from the overhanging pots by building human pyramids.