By This weekend, many Hindus around the world are celebrating Krishna Jayanti – the Birthday of Lord Krishna
As with many faith festivals, the exact date depends on the lunar cycle, so the date of celebrations may vary in different areas.
Krishna Jyanti is a 2-3 day festival, beginning with a day of fasting. Those unable to fast will have some fruit and milk. During the fast, homage is paid to Krishna through prayers, chanting mantras and singing devotional songs. Different segments from his life are also re-enacted.
The fast stops at midnight, the time when Hindus believe that Krishna was born – in a dungeon in Mathura where his parents were imprisoned. Mathura is now a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
After the fast, Krishna is welcomed with singing, dancing and sweets. In some homes and temples an image of the new-born Krishna is put in a cradle.
The festival is also known as Janmashtami – Janm means birth and Ashtami means eighth, because Lord Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
