Sri Krishna Janmastami

Sri Krishna Janmastami marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. This festival is also known as Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is regarded as the 8th avatar or 'incarnation' of Vishnu. The festival is observed on the Ashtami tithi, the eight day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadra (August-September) when the Rohini Nakshatra (called ADdebaran in the west) is ascendant. . Hence it is also known as Krishna Ashtami and is celebrated over two days. The first day is Krishna ashtami or Gokul Ashtami whereas the second day is known as the Kaal ashtami or more popularly Janamashtami. An attractive feature of the celebrations is cribs and other decorations depicting the stories of Lord Krishna’s childhood. At midnight between the first and second days the birth of Lord Krishna is replicated with pomp and ceremony. Delicacies are prepared from milk and as well as curds that Lord Krishna loved.


The Krishna Janmastami ceremony or worship is an elaborated affair. The prist chant holy mantras and bathe the idol with holy water. Only once the ceremony is over, the devotees break their daylong fast. In Janmashtami, the devotee keep awake and sing bhajans till midnight, until the moment when Krishna was born. People fast all day and eat only after the midnight birth ceremony when prayers are performed and hymns are song. And there are five main Jhankis (tableaux) of Janmashtami which depict the entire sequence of events from Lord Krishna’s birth to his being discovered in Gokul and are an intrinsic part o the festival. Devotee also make beautiful Jhulans (Cradles) for the baby Krishna where an idol of Lord Krishna is place and rocked to recreate the scenes from his infancy. The devotee believe that anyone who makes a wish and while rocking the cradle in which the lord is seated on, his or her wishes are granted on this particular occasion. Some of the other popular Jhankis include Kaaliya Mardan (vanquishing the black snake Kali Nag), Kansha vadha (killing Kansha) and lifting the Govardhan Parbhat.


On this occasion the Krishna Mandir of Patan receives a large number of devotees who flock to this ancient temple in picturesque old Patan Durbar Square to keep vigil through the glorious night of Lord Krishna’s birth.

Glance of Nepal