Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The Hindu calendar acknowledges the date on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapad, which corresponds to August–September (this year the holiday falls on September 5, 2015).
The festival celebrates the deity’s playful and often mischievous youth. Participants climb each other to form human pyramids, where teams compete to be the first to reach and break a suspended pot of butter. The butter eventually spills onto the participants, and is meant to recall stories of young Krishna mischievously grabbing a pot of butter (pictured above).
According to Hindu tradition, Krishna was hidden away as a child to protect him from an evil king who wanted to kill the baby Krishna in order to avoid a prophecy that foretold the king’s death at Krishna’s hands. The prophecy became self-fulfilling, however, when the king’s cruel and violent actions resulted in Krishna’s return to defend his family and kingdom.
Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and staying up until midnight (the time of Krishna’s birth), when they sing, dance, share devotions, and exchange gifts.
Learn more about our Cooperation Circles, many of whom are celebrating Janmashtami with their Hindu friends.
