Krishna Janmashtami 2022 is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth (janma) of the god Krishna on the eighth (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September).
Number eight has another significance in the Krishna legend in that he is the eighth child of his mother, Devaki. Janmashtami is celebrated Between August 18 – August 19, 2022.
Also Read: हनुमान चालीसा | Shri Hanuman Chalisa in Hindi with meaning
It is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. Dance-drama enactments of the life of Krishna according to the Bhagavata Purana (such as Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila), devotional singing through the midnight when Krishna was born, fasting (upavasa), a night vigil (Ratri Jagaran), and a festival (Mahotsav) on the following day are a part of the Janmashtami celebrations.
It is celebrated particularly in Mathura and Vrindavan, along with major Vaishnava and non-sectarian communities found in Manipur, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and all other states of India.
Krishna Janmashtami
How to Celebrate Janmashtami in 2022
Krishna Janmashtami is followed by the festival Nandotsav, which celebrates the occasion when Nanda Baba distributed gifts to the community in honour of the birth.
This occasion is observed especially in Mathura and Vrindavan (Brindaban), the scenes of Krishna’s childhood and early youth. On a preceding day, devotees keep a vigil and fast until midnight, the traditional hour of his birth. Then the image of Krishna is bathed in water and milk, dressed in new clothes, and worshipped.
Temples and household shrines are decorated with leaves and flowers; sweetmeats are first offered to the god and then distributed as Prasada (the god’s leftovers, which carry his favour) to all the members of the household.
The devotees of Krishna commemorate the events of his birth by preparing elaborate representations of Mathura, where he was born, the Yamuna River, over which he was transported to safety, and Gokul (ancient Vraja),
the scene of his childhood, using small images of the god, the other participants, and the animals and birds of the forest. Also, on this day people used to hang pots of butter and milk in the streets on the poles, and men form pyramids to reach and break the pots. It is famous as Dahi Handi.
This predicts Krishna’s childhood days when he used to play with the cowherd’s boys and stole curds hung out of reach by their mothers. So, he was also known as ‘Makhanchor’ the one who steals butter. People used to sing, and dance in groups. The festival is also a time for group singing and dancing.
So, now you may have come to know about the interesting story behind the Janmashtami festival and how is it celebrated.
Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
Some communities celebrate Krishna’s legends such as him as a Makkan chor (butter thief).
Baby Krishna with mother Yashoda
Also called – Krishnashtami, SaatamAatham, Gokulashtami,
Yadukulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti
Celebrations – Dahi Handi (next day), kite-flying, fair,
fasting, traditional sweet dishes, etc.
Observances – Dance-drama, puja, night vigil, fasting
Janmashtami 2022 Date – Thursday, 19 August
Krishna Janmashtami Celebration Outside India
Nepal
About eighty percent of the population of Nepal identify themselves as Hindus and celebrate Krishna Janmashtami. They observe Janmashtami by fasting until midnight. The devotees recite the Bhagavad Gita and sing religious songs called bhajans and kirtans. The temples of Krishna are decorated. Shops, posters, and houses carry Krishna motifs.
Patan-Krishna-Mandir-Garudasaeule-Vishveshvara-Bhimsen
Bangladesh
Janmashtami is a national holiday in Bangladesh. On Janmashtami, a procession starts from Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, the National Temple of Bangladesh, and then proceeds through the streets of Old Dhaka.
The procession dates back to 1902 but was stopped in 1948. The procession was resumed in 1989.
Fiji
At least a quarter of the population in Fiji practices Hinduism, and this holiday has been celebrated in Fiji since the first Indian indentured labourers landed there. Janmashtami in Fiji is known as “Krishna Ashtami”.
Most Hindus in Fiji have ancestors that originated from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu, making this an especially important festival for them.
Fiji’s Janmashtami celebrations are unique in that they last for eight days, leading up to the eighth day, the day Krishna was born. During these eight days, Hindus gather at home and at temples with their ‘mandalis,’ or devotional groups evenings and night, and recite the Bhagavat Purana, sing devotional songs for Krishna, and distribute Prasadam.
Pakistan
Janmashtami is celebrated by Pakistani Hindus in the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi with the singing of bhajans and delivering sermons on Krishna.
Réunion
Among the Malbars of the French island Réunion, a syncretism of Catholicism and Hinduism can develop. Janmashtami is considered to be the date of birth of Jesus Christ.
Others
In Arizona, United States, Governor Janet Napolitano was the first American leader to greet a message on Janmashtami, while acknowledging ISKCON. The festival is also celebrated widely by Hindus in the Caribbean in the countries of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and the former British colony Fiji as well as the former Dutch colony of Suriname.
Many Hindus in these countries originate from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar; descendants of indentured immigrants from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa.
ISKCON temples worldwide celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, as well as the birthday of ISKCON founder Swami Prabhupada (1 September 1896).
Also Read: Who Is Goddess Maa Durga & Birth of Durga Mata?
Krishna Janmastmi in Hindi
Janmashtami 2021: कब है श्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी? जानें व्रत के नियम, श्रृंगार और पूजन विधि
भगवान कृष्ण का जन्म अष्टमी तिथि को हुआ था, इसलिए जन्माष्टमी के निर्धारण में अष्टमी तिथि का बहुत ज्यादा ध्यान रखते हैं. इस दिन श्रीकृष्ण की पूजा करने से संतान प्राप्ति,आयु और समृद्धि की प्राप्ति होती है. श्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी का पर्व मनाकर हर मनोकामना पूरी की जा सकती है.
krishna-janmashtami-hindi
भगवान कृष्ण का जन्म भाद्रपद कृष्ण अष्टमी को होने के कारण इसको कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी कहते हैं. भगवान कृष्ण का जन्म अष्टमी तिथि को हुआ था, इसलिए जन्माष्टमी के निर्धारण में अष्टमी तिथि का बहुत ज्यादा ध्यान रखते हैं.
इस दिन श्रीकृष्ण की पूजा करने से संतान प्राप्ति,आयु और समृद्धि की प्राप्ति होती है. श्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी का पर्व मनाकर हर मनोकामना पूरी की जा सकती है. जिन लोगों का चंद्रमा कमजोर हो वे आज विशेष पूजा से लाभ पा सकते हैं. इस बार जन्माष्टमी का संयोग 30 अगस्त को बन रहा है.
कैसे करें जन्माष्टमी के लिए श्री कृष्ण की मूर्ति का चुनाव?
सामान्यतः जन्माष्टमी पर बाल कृष्ण की स्थापना की जाती है. आप अपनी आवश्यकता और मनोकामना के आधार पर जिस स्वरूप को चाहें स्थापित कर सकते हैं. प्रेम और दाम्पत्य जीवन के लिए राधा कृष्ण की, संतान के लिए बाल कृष्ण की और सभी मनोकामनाओं के लिए बंशी वाले कृष्ण की स्थापना करें. इस दिन शंख और शालिग्राम की स्थापना भी कर सकते हैं.
क्या होगा इनका श्रृंगार?
श्री कृष्ण के श्रृंगार में फूलों का खूब प्रयोग करें. पीले रंग के वस्त्र, गोपी चन्दन और चन्दन की सुगंध से इनका श्रृंगार करें. काले रंग का प्रयोग न करें. वैजयंती के फूल अगर कृष्ण जी को अर्पित किए जाएं तो सर्वोत्तम होगा.
क्या होगा इनका प्रसाद?
पंचामृत जरूर अर्पित करें. उसमे तुलसी दल भी जरूर डालें. मेवा, माखन और मिसरी का भोग भी लगाएं. कहीं-कहीं, धनिये की पंजीरी भी अर्पित की जाती है. पूर्ण सात्विक भोजन जिसमें तमाम तरह के व्यंजन हों, इस दिन श्री कृष्ण को अर्पित किए जाते हैं.
कैसे मनाएं जन्माष्टमी का पर्व?
प्रातःकाल स्नान करके व्रत या पूजा का संकल्प लें. दिन भर जलाहार या फलाहार ग्रहण करें और सात्विक रहें. मध्यरात्रि को भगवान कृष्ण की धातु की प्रतिमा को किसी पात्र में रखें. उस प्रतिमा को पहले दूध, दही, शहद, शर्करा और अंत में घी से स्नान कराएं. इसी को पंचामृत स्नान कहते हैं.
इसके बाद प्रतिमा को जल से स्नान कराएं. तत्पश्चात पीताम्बर, पुष्प और प्रसाद अर्पित करें. ध्यान रखें की अर्पित की जाने वाली चीजें शंख में डालकर ही अर्पित की जाएंगी. पूजा करने वाला व्यक्ति काले या सफेद वस्त्र धारण नहीं करेगा. इसके बाद अपनी मनोकामना के अनुसार मंत्र जाप करें. अंत में प्रसाद ग्रहण करें और वितरण करें.
