Why do we celebrate Janmashtami?

Janmashtami or Gokulashtami or Krishnashtmi is the birthday celebration of Lord Krishna. He is believed to be Lord Vishnu’s eighth incarnation.

It is celebrated by Hindus in the month of August or September all across India but the festival is vital in Mathura and Vrindavan where he spent his childhood days.

On the occasion the temples and homes are wonderfully decorated and lightened. Religious hymns are sung at temples. The priests bath the idol with Panchamrita which comprises of water from the holy Ganges River, milk, ghee or clarified butter, curd, and honey pouring all these from a conch shell. Then the idol of infant Krishna is placed in a cradle. Raslilas are performed to remember the childhood memories of Lord Krishna.