Lord Krishna and Radha (Source: Neera Sahni)
The Krishna Janmashtami festival marks the divine birth of Krishna, one of the most popular deities worshiped by Hindus. He is thought to have been born in Mathura in 3228 BC. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami. Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu. His birthday is celebrated eight days after Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
Baby Krishna with his mother Yashoda (Source: Wikipedia)
Krishna is Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi's son. Krishna is born in an area of chaos. Both his parents were in prison and when there was a threat to Krishna’s life by his uncle King Kansa. For the safe upbringing of their son, his father Vasudeva takes Krishna across the Yamuna, to foster parents Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul.
Legend has it - when Mother Earth was unable to bear the sins and cruelty committed by evil kings and rulers. Mother Earth then prayed to Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, to relieve her from these sinful kings. Lord Brahma prayed to the supreme Lord Vishnu for reincarnation and to relieve the Mother Earth from these evil rulers. Lord Vishnu accepted the request and assured to defeat tyrannical forces.
The ruler of Mathura, Kansa was one such evil king. He had a sister named Devaki, who was married to Vasudeva. The day Devaki and Vasudeva got married, a voice from the sky forecasted that Devaki's eighth son will bring an end to Kansa’s rule and will kill him. Frightened Kansa held the couple. He then vowed that he will kill every child of Devaki and Vasudeva. Seeing their first seven children being killed by the cruel Kansa, the imprisoned couple feared giving birth to their eighth child.One night Lord Vishnu appeared before them. He told them that in the guise of their son, he will return and rescue them from Kansa's autocracy.
The divine baby was born and the day he was born, Vasudeva found himself magically freed from prison. He ran away with the infant to a safer house and Lord Vishnu removed all the obstacles from Vasudeva's path.
Vasudeva reached a house in Gokul, exchanged Lord Krishna with a newborn girl of Yashoda and Nanda and returned to the prison with the girl child. As soon as Kansa came to know about the new-born, he again tried to kill the child. The infant ascends to the heavens and transformed into the goddess Yogamaya and said, "O foolish Kansa! What will you get by killing me? Your nemesis is already born.”
Meanwhile, Krishna was raised as a cowherd in Gokul and became a skilful musician. On his return to Mathura, he slayed Kansa and restored his father to power.
Famously known as Lord Krishna in the epic Hindu book Mahabharata. Lord Krishna's life marks the passing of the Dvapara age and beginning of the Kal yuga - which is also considered as the current age.
Dahni Handi festival (Source: Wikipedia)
Janmashtami is celebrated over two days by people keeping fast, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna, the first day and celebration of Dahi Handi (it involves communities hanging an earthen pot filled with dahi (yogurt) or butter or other milk delicacy at a convenient or tall height. Young men and boys form teams make a human pyramid and attempt to reach or break the pot and dahi spills. As they do so, people surround them, sing, play music, and cheer them on. It is a public spectacle, and an old tradition) completion and other festivities the next day. After Krishna's midnight hour birth, statues of baby Krishna are washed and clothed, then placed in a cradle. After offering the sweets and food to baby Krishna, devotees then break their fast, by sharing sweets and food amongst them. Women draw tiny footprints outside their house doors and kitchen, walking towards their house, a symbolism for Krishna's journey into their homes.
Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021
References:
https://www.worldhistory.org/Mahabharata/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/janmashtami-why-do-some-hindus-go-without-sleep-for-2-days/zmmwgwx