Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami (8th day) of Lord Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Shravana Janmashtami On 14th August 2017.

History and Background of Janmashtami

One of the most important Hindu festivals, Janmashtami (Lord Krishna Jayanti) is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who gave the vital message of Bhagwat Gita the guiding principles for every Hindu.

Across India there will be ceremonies and prayers at temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The day before may consist of fasting and prayer up to midnight,the time at which it was said that Krishna was born.

According to tradition, Krishna was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. In this region, a common custom is the performance of Krishna Lila, a folk drama consisting of scenes from Krishna's life.

Many customs have developed in the different parts of India, all based on stories from Krishna's life. For instance, it is said that as a boy, Lord Krishna loved butter and milk so much that they had to be kept out of his reach. This story is reflected in many climbing games for children.

In Tamil Nadu, oiled poles with pots of money tied to the top are set up. Boys dressed as Lord Krishna then try to climb these poles to get the money while onlookers squirt water at them.

In Maharashtra, where the festival is known as Govinda, pots containing buttermilk are suspended high over streets. Teams of boys then form human pyramids competing against each other to see who can break the most pots.

There are Many colourful tales of Lord Krishna's life. As a child he is noted for his pranks such as the aforementioned butter stealing and images of him as a child often show him dancing joyously and holding a ball of butter in his hands.