Jamshedpur, Aug 29: With elaborately decorated cradles and devotees offering prayers at temples to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, Janmashtami celebration startedv from midnight itself with much gaiety in the city. The impact of COVID-19 was visible as few temples witnessed mass gathering. Several temples went live on social media platforms to showcase the rituals being performed.
At Surya Mandir Sidgora, the temple was beautifully decorated with streamers and lights which were lit up at night. A huge tableau was prepared and Lord Krishna and Radha in new clothes were decorated with flowers for the celebration that picked momentum after sunset. Several competitions like Handi Fodh and Bal Krishna Sajao however remain cancelled this year.
At Krishna Temple, Telco, the day began as early as 4.30 a.m. with prayers. The temple was beautifully decorated with streamers and lights which would be lit up at night.
‘The Janmashtami celebrations began with the Mangala aarti. There was the Guru puja after that and the Maha Abhishek,’ a member of the temple said.
‘Devotees had started coming early in the morning. The gathering was small this year. Prasad (offerings) was distributed to all the devotees,’ the member added.
“On Janmashtami, we generally fast. However, some people eat fruit and a few other specific items. The actual festivity begins late at night when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born,” Shivam Misra, a member of Krihna Mandir.
Nidhi Sharma, a school teacher, said that she dressed up her two-year-old son as Krishna in the evening for the celebrations in the community.
‘Janmashtami celebrations are great fun in our locality. Devotional songs are sung and small girls dress up in all their finery imitating Krishna’s friends and dance. I will dress up my son as Krishna in a yellow dhoti, complete with a crown with a peacock feather,’ Sharma said.
The Shyam Mandir of the city was decorated with flowers and maha-arti was performed to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. A huge tableau was prepared and Lord Krishna and Radha in new clothes were decorated with flowers for the celebration which picked momentum after sunset.
In several households, the idol of Lord Krishna and Radha were adorned with new clothes of yellow color and jewellery as the devotees observed fast for the entire day, busy preparing delicacies to offer to the Lord made up of milk and fruits.
The city was draped in a spirit of festivity as devotees thronged several decorated temples offering their prayers to the Lord. The entire city reverberated on the tunes of ‘Hare Krishna… hare krishna’.
With priests at the temples reciting Sanskrit verses and text of Bhagavad Gita, people chanting devotional songs thronged the temples in various localities on Janmashtami — celebrated to mark birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most loved Hindu deities. Devotees also participated at Radha Krishna temple at Refugee Colony.
“Devotees have been lining up in front of the temple from 5 a.m. It is believed that fasting with a sincere heart on Janmashtami fulfils wishes,” Dwarika Sharma, a priest.
‘While devotees observe ritualistic fasts on the occasion, the more fervent devotees observe a Nirjal vrat (waterless fast) that is broken at midnight after offering prayers to hail Lord Krishna’s birth,’ he added.
Idols of Lord Krishna at temples are decorated with flowers and electronic lights, and also those at the houses, were bathed and offered new clothes.
