Janmashtami also known as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami and Srijayanti will be celebrated on August 22, 2011 as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to the Hindu calendar Janmashtami is celebrated in the month of August/September on the ashtami of Krishna Paksh; the eighth day of bhadon.
Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Mathura and Vrindavan where Lord Krishna is said to have spent his childhood. Devotees from all over the world come to these places to celebrate the birth of the most famous Hindu God Lord Krishna.
It is believed that Lord Krishna was born under the Rohini Nakshatram on a dark and stormy night to end the evil rule of his maternal uncle ‘Kansa’.
Janmashtami is a 48 hour celebration. The first day goes in the preparation for the arrival of the deity Lord Krishna. The actual festivities start at around midnight by welcoming Lord Krishna amidst prayers and arti. The deity is bathed with a holy mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal called Panchamrit. The Panchamrit is later distributed among devotees as Prasad. Some devotees fast on the first day and end it with the arrival of their lord at midnight while others continue to fast till the second day.
It is estimated that there will be around 5000 devotees this year on Janmashtami. A two day Janmashtami celebration will take place on August 22 at Kukatpally and in Secunderabad on August 23 by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
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