Janmashtami in Uttar Pradesh | 22 Aug 2024

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh is underway with Janmashtami celebrations, particularly in Ayodhya and Vrindavan, where devotees are visiting temples and shopping for the festival.

Key Points

  • Krishna Janmashtami, also called Gokulashtami or Shrikrishna Jayanti, is a major Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
  • Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the Bhadrapada month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, usually in August or September.
  • One of the key highlights of Janmashtami is the "Dahi Handi" event.

Important Fairs of Uttar Pradesh

  • Taj Mahotsav:
    • It is a vibrant 10-day festival held annually at Shilpgram in Agra. This celebration draws inspiration from the rich Mughal and Nawabi culture that thrived in Uttar Pradesh during the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Kumbh Mela:
    • The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, celebrated by Hindus.
    • The festival is held at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation.
      • Pilgrims gather to bathe in the sacred rivers (Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, and Shipra), seeking spiritual purification.
  • Ganga Mahotsav:
    • The Ganges River is very important to India and has supported many civilizations along its banks. A festival is celebrated in Varanasi during the Karthik month to thank the river goddess for her blessings and to ask for more.
      • The ghats are decorated with lights and flowers, and on Karthik Poornima, people gather by the river to light and float earthen lamps.