Divine Lord

Lord Krishna is the mischievous Bal Gopal, the beloved of all gopikas (cow herding girls in Vaishnava theology). But on the occasion of Janmashtami, he becomes the little boy of all Indian households.

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The birth of Krishna, the most powerful incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is celebrated throughout the country with great zeal in the holy cities of Vrindavan and Mathura.

According to the Holy Scriptures, Lord Krishna was born, to Yadhava king Vasudeva and Mathura ruler Kamsa’s sister Devaki, to put an end to the diabolical rule of Kamsa and restore happiness on earth. During their wedding, there was a message from heaven that the eighth child of Devaki would kill Kamsa.

He had already killed his sister’s six children but Lord Balarama, who was the seventh, was saved by divine forces. Lord Krishna, the eighth child, was born in an auspicious hour when the star Rohini was effulgent and nature was expressing her joy with inexplicable fervour.

Vasudeva had no clue on how to protect the baby from Kamsa, but a chain of miracles left him awestruck. The prison gates were flung open and the guards fell asleep to some mellifluous tune. With that, Lord Vishnu appeared and guided him to carry the child to Gokul where his friend Nanda lived. It rained heavily that night as the Yamuna River overflowed but when Vasudeva’s feet touched the water, the river divided to make way for him and the serpent Sheshnag provided them shade from the incessant downfall.

Reaching Gokul, he exchanged Krishna with the baby girl of Nanda and Yashodha. The Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi (birthplace) Temple at Mathura is believed to be His exact birthplace. In Vrindavan, Krishna is known by the name of Sri Banke Bihari.

It is believed that till this day the Lord descends to the earth to perform Rasa Lila with the gopikas. There is a small grove in Vrindavan known as Nidhivan which is known to be the resting place of Radha and Krishna. It is said that the trees there are actually gopikas who come to life after evening sets in.

They dance at the mesmerising tune of the flute. In the after noon, the priests put two tooth brushes, holy water in a jug and sweets in a hut at Nidhivan and prepare bed for the Lord after the evening prayers. In the morning the bed is often found to have been slept on and the offered things used.

There are similar other folklores about the His birth that have survived generations. Janmashtami is not merely a festival as it conveys a deeper message that we are living in the darkness of our own vices. But with the birth of Lord Krishna on this auspicious day, all such darkness fades away.

(Sutanu Bhattacharyya, Coordinator, Class XI, Hindu School)

Representing youth

Krishna Janmashtami brings joyous colours to our life. Predominantly observed in the state of Maharashtra, this festival is also celebrated in Kolkata, with paying obeisance to Lord Krishna in various temples and distributing prasad (part of the food offered to the God) to devotees thereafter.

In Maharashtra, it is one of the noted ceremonies which calls in for great enthusiasm among the old and young ones alike. Besides its importance in Hindu mythology, this celebration is also dedicated to the children who are considered His forms.

On this day, the youth enthusiastically takes part in performing the ritual of Dahi Handi. The tradition enacts the mischievous Kanha and his friends’ frequent acts of stealing curd from the households of Gokul as is depicted in the mythological stories.

The participants are known as govindas or govinda pathaks.

Various societies of Maharashtra hang curd filled pots at great heights awaiting Mandalis (community of disciples) to arrive in their society and keep the tradition going on. Devotional songs are sung along with beating of drums, playing of shehnais and trumpets to cheer the govindas.

They start forming the human pyramid, till the point they reach the height of the “handi” full of curd. Generally it goes up to about three to four tiers with the topmost consisting of the small govinda of the Mandali. The base tier consists of the sturdy members, on which climbs the other members until it forms a pyramid. It is more of a social festival than a religious one.

The Mandalis are mostly people belonging to the economically backward class, for whom it is both an enjoyment and an opportunity to win something substantive. The tradition of thus showcases a unified bond of friendship and oneness as was there between Krishna and his friends.

On this day, Krishna is seen as a boy full of life and mischief, as if representing youth.

(Sayan Chandra, Class XII, Coordinator, St Thomas' Boys' School, Kidderpore)

Restorer of wisdom

Adding brighter hues to the festive moods of rainy days is the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami or Krishnashtami. Although celebrated nationally, this is a day of enormous significance for the Hindus.

As legends say, Kamsa, the king of Mathura, found joy in inflicting pain to his subjects. For his immoral activities, he was cursed that his sister Devaki’s and Yadhava king Vasudeva’s eighth son will be the cause of his death. Since then, he became even more violent and heartlessly killed six of their children. But Krishna, as Lord Vishnu’s avatar, enlightened Devaki’s lap with his birth.

That day was also the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishnapaksha (the time when moon fades) in the month of Bhadrapada (according to Hindu calendar).

Growing up in Gokul as Kanha, with the love and care of his foster parents, Nanda and Yashodha, his divine powers made themselves visible through his mischievous acts. Later he emerged as the invincible warrior and demolished Kansa and held the throne in Dwarka.

During the war of Kurukshetra, Krishna introduced himself to Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers, as an embodiment of Lord Vishnu and explained that the purpose of His holy birth on earth is to drive away all evils and establish the realm of morality and truthfulness.

Janmashtami is not only a day of endless remembrances of this deity, but also for rejoicing traditions like Dahi Handi, flying kites, chanting kirtans (a form of devotional songs), or visiting fairs.

(Manjush Halder, Coordinator, Class VIII, Bongaon High School)

Lover of sweets

Janmasthami is a sacred festival popularly celebrated every year according to the Bhadromash (August-September) of the Hindu calendar.

Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born on this day. His birthday is celebrated with great joy and fervour throughout India as fasts are observed, games are played and His deity is worshipped and dedicated His favourite delicacies.

As kids, we have all grown up watching and listening to stories and songs about Lord Krishna and how his sweet tooth would drive him and his friends to hunt for milk or butter in almost all households of Gokul.

To keep it out of reach from Krishna, the gopikas used to hang the pots of butter high up on the roof but they still managed to steal it. During this occasion, taler bora (sugar palm fritters) is made.

The women of most Indian households are adept at beating the rather bitter palm until it becomes really sweet to taste and cook them into the delicious fritters.

Other popular sweets dedicated to Lord Krishna are rabri, jaggery, rasmalai, pera, (all different types of sweet dishes) dahi (curd), makhan (butter), kheer, mohan bhog and so on. The women observe fasts and pay offerings to the Lord four times in the day of Janmashtami as the exact moment of His birth is unknown.

The fast is broken the following day after feeding the Brahmans.

Interestingly, Lord Krishna is known to have 108 names, some of which are even used for naming sweets.

(Anwita Dasgupta, Coordinator, Class IX, St Clare School)

Shelter forever

Different religious books have described Lord Krishna in various forms besides his stereotypically worshipped idols. Starting from the Shree Krishnakirtankavya to the latest religious update, the Lord has been referred to as the saviour. Besides being the deity people have been worshipping as a power, a grace and a rescuer since ages, Lord Krishna has played versatile roles in sheltering his devotees.

Talking about this subject first comes his blessings to a childless woman. Have we not seen such pious women ‘loving’ the idol of little Krishna as her unborn son? Yes, we have. We have also seen Lord Krishna to become the father to an orphan child.

Poor children have found their protector Godfather at the feet of the Lord. The woman abandoned by her husband, seeks shelter at His feet.

The warrior who lost his legs in the battlefield or the poor man whose house got burnt or the parents whose child cries in the deathbed, have prayed to Lord Krishna seeking strength to fight. The king the shepherds, arrives as an inconspicuous avatar in our lives to eliminate our sorrows and bring peace to our lives.

This Janmashtami let’s keep the incense sticks away, the flowers and the bells aside and chant hymns dedicating to the Lord of the Lords – Lord Krishna.

(Oishi Pattanayak, Coordinator, Class XII, Belda Gangadhar Academy)