Janmashtami 2018 Celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan: Know What Makes These Places Special During Gokulashtami Festival

The festival of Janmashtami, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna is around the corner. Janmashtami this year will be celebrated on September 2 followed by Dahi Handi on September 3. While most states in the celebrate bring in the celebrations, if you are an ardent believer and want to experience the best aura of the festival, then you should definitely head to Uttar Pradesh. Mathura and Vrindavan are two holy towns in the state, which have some of the best celebrations across the country for Janmashtami.

Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, so a day marking the birth of the Lord is undoubtedly one of the biggest festivals celebrated here. The city of Vrindavan is where Lord Krishna spend most of his youth, so the celebrations here too are in much enthusiasm. Krishna Janmashtami 2018: Janmashtami Decorations, Their Significance and Simple DIY Ideas, Watch Video. 

 Janmashtami Celebrations in Mathura:

Since Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, celebrations take a face of grandiose here. Each and every person who resides here or even those who visit here during the occasion can sense a different vibe of divinity and joy combined. There are many temples here dedicated to the Lord and each of them is elaborately decorated for the festival. The Dwarkadish temple in Mathura has the grandest of the celebrations and preparations begin much in advance.

People also here have Jhulanotsav, which involves people making decorated cradles and swings for the welcome of the Lord. They keep these in their house and make rangolis outside their house for the day. Children and elderly alike take part in the festivities. Children dress as Lord Krishna and enact out skits relating to the life of Lord Krishna.

Janmashtami Celebrations in Vrindavan:

The town of Vrindavan is where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his formative years. So his presence is well documented and the belief stays strong among all the residents. There are more than 4000 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, so you can imagine the intensity of the celebrations here. On Janmashtami, all temples follow the ritual of Abhishek- means giving the lord a bath in milk and water. Devotees gather in huge numbers to witness this. The festivities begin almost a week in advance to the actual festival.

Along with the ritual of Abhishek, there are several other traditional rituals and pujas that are held across all temples. The Chappan Bhog, a traditional and lavish meal is offered as prasad in temples after worship of the Lord. There is a specific forest area in which Lord Krishna is believed to have played raas leela (a kind of dance) with other gopis and Radha. On the occasion of Janmashtami, this forest is lit up with all decorations. Some people here also have performances similar to raas leela.

So overall the celebration of Janmashtami in these twin cities is unparalleled with their enthusiasm and vibe. The temples here take a different face and every tourist can totally immerse in the divine aura felt here.  The celebrations begin at midnight when Krishna was born so everyone stays up the entire night and the festivities continue next morning. It is an experience in itself to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna here.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2018 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).