Krishna Jayanti

 "When doubts haunt, when disappointment stares me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to console me and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it everyday. ” - Mahatma Gandhi

 Krishna Jayanti is the most popular event, widely, celebrated festival all over India as well globally. Krishana Jayanti or Krishnashtami means the birthday of Lord Krishna. This year, Gokulashtami falls on 4th September 2007.

Sri Krishna like Sri Rama is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.Lord Krishna's Bagvad Gita is an expounded and adorable study universally as it depicts and educates the spiritual values for perfection of life and to attain liberation.

The birth star of the Lord is associated with Rohini nakshatra(4th asterism) assigned to the eighth lunar day in the dark fortnight month of Badrapadha (August/September).

When ashtami thithi and Rohini star fuses it is sacred and fasting is observed on this day.If it spreads to two days, star value is chosen for observance.Since the Lord was born at midnight, the observance of Vrata starts at midnight.Repeating Lord's name, listening to talks on Bagvad Gita,hymns of praise on Lord's story and Parana(ceremonial breaking of the fast) are the main issues of the vrata.

On the social face, in some places like Maharashtra (place in North India), boys and common folks hang up pots with curd, play under them, get drenched by the liquid, running out of the holes in typical Krishna fashion! In south India eatables like Seedai, Murukuare are prepared for the occassion.

Gokul, which is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna near Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) , Dwaraka (Gujarat) and all ISCON establishments celebrate Krishna ashtami in a very grand way.