Have you grown up watching movies and shows made about a young Lord Krishna’s mischievous life? They might have inspired you or made you laugh as a kid. Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and the protector of the universe. His role in the scheme of our lives is unparalleled. To celebrate his birth, Hindus observe the festival of Krishna Janmashtami all over India and abroad. But do you know the story behind his eventful birth?

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The spellbinding tale

At the stroke of midnight, when the world was asleep, Lord Krishna was born to change the course of history. According to Hindu mythology, it was prophesied that the son of King Kansa’s sister, Devaki, would end his tyrannical reign, thereby bringing peace to the city of Mathura. To protect himself, Kansa tried to kill his sister and her husband. But upon Vasudeva’s pleading, he spared Devaki’s life but imprisoned her and Vasudeva. Kansa also made sure that none of their children survived.

Kansa killed seven of Devaki and Vasudeva’s sons, and Lord Krishna was the eighth son born to them. On the night of his birth, Kansa was sleepless. At the same time, Vasudeva, determined to ensure his son’s survival, went out in a raging storm across the river Yamuna, carrying his son in a basket. So, as soon as Krishna was born, Vasudeva left his prison with his son and reached Gokul. There, he pleaded with a cowherd couple, Nanda and Yashoda, to raise Krishna as their own child. The same night, Yashoda had given birth to a daughter. So, Vasudeva took their daughter and left Krishna at Gokul with Yashoda and Nanda.

When Vasudeva came back to his prison with a girl child, Kansa was surprised to see that Devaki gave birth to a daughter instead of a son. Yet, he killed the child and believed himself safe from the prophecy.

Krishna’s divine birth was closely related to eradicating evil. The little Kanha was not an ordinary child; he was God himself. And there started his mischief with his mother Yashoda, and everyone around him. He used supernatural wit to combat King Kansa, his archenemy’s sorceries. Lord Krishna was widely popular among the gopiyaan of Gokul. He would often mesmerise them with his ability to play the flute. Another important part of Krishna’s life is his relationship with Radha. To this day, the bond between Lord Krishna and Radha is considered the epitome of love.

Two days of celebrations

Indians observe Krishna Janmashtami on the Ashtami, the eighth day after Rakshabandhan. People in many parts of India, especially Mathura and Vrindavan, celebrate the festival for two days. The reason is that Ashtami is calculated from sunrise to the next sunrise. Some people sit through the night, singing folk songs to reminisce about Lord Krishna. They also prepare his favourite meals with milk and curd. He is also regarded as Makhanlal because of his fondness for buttermilk. Hindus also observe fast on the first day of Krishna Janmashtami and wait till midnight to break their fast.

Furthermore, Janmashtami is a very joyous festival for Hindus. They engage in different cultural activities. Lord Krishna’s temples are decorated with peacock feathers and other colourful accessories. The temple authorities place the younger version of Lord Krishna’s idol in a cradle to celebrate his birth. Devotees visit these temples and participate in plays to re-enact Lord Krishna’s life story. They dance and sing bhajans to commemorate his birth. 

Another remarkable tradition of Janmashtami includes the Dahi Handi. People form a systematic human pyramid by standing on each other’s shoulders. A young boy climbs to the top of the pyramid to break the dahi handi or clay pot with buttermilk inside. This tradition commemorates Lord Krishna’s playful and adventurous years of childhood.

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