Why We Celebrate Janmashtami for Two Days

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and marks the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees observe fast and sing devotional songs for him.  Krishna, was born on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada which comes in between the month of August and September in Mathura.

In 2021, Janmashtami is going to be celebrated on 30th August (Monday)

It is quite popular in the whole nation. People celebrate this day with much fervour and enthusiasm. You must have seen kids dressed up as child Krishna, market lined up with fancy items of decoration and elegant handis, people engaging in the decoration of Ras Leela and most of the temples decorated with flowers.

Krishna Janmashtmi, celebration of two days

India celebrates Krishna Janmashtami mainly for two days.

• The first day is known as Krishna Jayanti- Monday, 30 August 2021

• The second day is popular by the name of Dahi Handi- Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Let’s discuss how important are these days and in what way people celebrate them.

First day- Krishna Jayanti

It is the day when people start their preparation for the celebration of the Lord Krishan birth.  According to the legends, Lord Krishna was the incarnation of Vishnu, who was born in dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada in Mathura. 

Many Hindus don’t sleep this day instead they spend their night in singing bhajans which are devotional Hindu songs. They prefer to fast all day and night for the first day of Krishna Janmashtami. They usually break their fast at midnight.

It is a great day for the children as they celebrate it by decorating their selected area with toys, rangoli and many other fancy items. Children and play role of Lord Krishna, Radha, Shiva and Parvati. Song, dance and drama are the main celebration features of Krishna Janmashtami.

In temples, the statues of Krishan are bathed and placed in cradles, on the other hand, shankh is blown and bells are rung. Holy mantras are chanted to venerate images and status of Lord Krishna.

Second day- Dahi Handi

This is another striking tradition which also known as human pyramid. The second day is also marked as birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. As a part of traditional celebration, teams of young boys and girls create human pyramids in which participants scale to break an earthen pot, hanged at particular height, filled with dahi (yogurt).

The primary purpose of celebrating Dahi Handi is to commemorate sweet endearing deeds of Lord Krishna. This is an enactment of Lord Krishna and his team.

Lord Krishna was quite spirited and naughty as a child. Krishna was very great fan of ‘Makkhan’ and ‘dahi’ and all other dairy food items. He was always fascinated to steal them from the residents of Vrindavan. It is mainly celebrated in the state of Maharashtra, where huge preparation of Dahi Handi takes place.