Janmashtami: How is the festival celebrated across India

Thecountry today is celebrating the annual Hindu festival "Janmashtami" to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

Janmashtami which celebrates the birth oftheeighth avatar of Vishnu falls on Ashtmi of the Krishna Paksha (eighth day of the moon) of Bhadrapad which falls in the month of August and September.

The festival is celebratedby observing fast till midnight and worshipping Lord Krishna by singing devotional songs. However, Janmashtami or Gokulashtmiis celebrated in different forms all over the country.

Janmashtami holds greater significance in the northern city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh which is considered the birthplace of Krishna.

In South India, the people celebrate the festival by decorating their floors with small footprints made of flour symbolizing Bal-Gopal (baby Krishna). They also offer Krishna fruits as "prasad".

In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is celebrated in the form of popular Dahi Handi festival. The celebration takes place by breaking "dahi handi" a pot full of curd hung in the air. People form chains and climb over each other to reach the height of the dahi handi. One of them then reaches the top to break the handi. The event symbolises stealing of butter by Krishna and his friends.

In Dwarka, Gujarat which is considered as the kingdom of Lord Krishna, people celebratethe festival of Krishna in his infant form.

Janamashtmi is also known as Krishna Janmashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtmi Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanati and Sree Jayanti.