Gulfam Khan Hussain Balgopal... The beautiful face, the innocent eyes, and a mouthful of stolen butter... The image is simply enchanting. ...
Gulfam Khan Hussain
Balgopal... The beautiful face, the innocent eyes, and a mouthful of
stolen butter... The image is simply enchanting. It's one of my most cherished
memories. Growing up, we had neighbors from Uttar Pradesh, and the Panditji who
visited their house would tell us childhood stories of Sri Krishna. I love the
festive atmosphere, the positivity, and the lights. I usually visit the ISKCON
Temple and the Radha Krishna Temple on Veera Desai Road.
Rinku Ghosh
The day is considered spiritually significant as Lord Krishna’s birth is
celebrated to honor his divine mission of eradicating evil and establishing
dharma. As a child, and even today, we observe a fast until midnight, the time
Krishna was born according to Hindu scriptures. We used to make a palna
(cradle) for Nandlal (a loving name for baby Krishna) and prepare sweets or
kheer for him. The next day, we celebrate Dahi Handi, a joyous occasion marking
Krishna's birth, by forming human pyramids or tall human towers to break the
handi, symbolizing the pot of butter. As a child, I remember that the day
before Janmashtami, boys would dress up as Krishna, and girls would dress up as
Radha and go to school. My 9-year-old niece does the same today.
Hansa Singh
The best celebration I have witnessed as a child remains so fresh in my
mind, and I wish to recreate it all on Janmashtami. My family hails from
Mathura, and it’s all about Krishna, our beloved Laddu Gopal. We would stitch
new clothes for him, decorate his jhoola (swing), and prepare all the
delicacies with prasad of "Panjiri," as we say, pakka khana: poori,
sabzi, raita, and kheer... sigh. At midnight, we would all sit together and
perform pooja to celebrate the birth of our Laddu Gopal, followed by a night
filled with bhajans. This year, I will be with my family, so I will feel the
same warmth and camaraderie, asking for his blessings as always.
Sherleen Dutt
As a child, Janmashtami was a day of excitement and joy. I loved helping
my family decorate the puja room with flowers, rangolis, and little idols of
Lord Krishna. Dressing up as Radha or Krishna, and participating in the Dahi
Handi event, where we formed human pyramids to break a pot filled with curd,
were highlights of the day. The celebrations ended with a special feast of
Krishna's favorite dishes prepared by my mother. As I've grown older,
Janmashtami has become more intimate, often celebrated with close family or on
my own. While the grand communal aspect has faded, the day remains special for
reflection and reconnecting with my spiritual side. Despite the fast pace of
modern life, these festivals still hold great relevance, reminding us to pause
and focus on what truly matters.
Aadesh Chaudhary
As a child, Janmashtami was a day filled with joy and anticipation. I
remember waking up early to help decorate the house with flowers, small idols
of Lord Krishna, and tiny footprints symbolizing Krishna's walk into our home.
The highlight was participating in the midnight celebrations, where we sang
bhajans, performed aarti, and broke the Dahi Handi, which was always a fun and
spirited event. Regarding the relevance of festivals like Janmashtami in
today’s busy world, I believe they still hold great importance. They offer a
chance to pause, reflect, and connect with our cultural roots. While the way we
celebrate may evolve, the values and teachings associated with these festivals
continue to provide meaning and a sense of community. In a fast-paced world,
these traditions remind us to slow down and appreciate the spiritual aspects of
life.
Shubhangi Atre
One of my most cherished childhood memories is the Janmashtami
celebration. My mother would dress me as Radha for my school’s Dahi Kala
celebration in Indore. My father would take me to the famous Laxminarayan
temple, also known as the Birla Temple or Krishna Parnami Temple, where the
festival is celebrated on a grand scale for blessings. At home, we would paint
tiny baby footprints on the floor to symbolize Baal Krishna's steps. We would
stay awake until midnight for the aarti and enjoy special sweets like makhan
mishri, lauki ki barfi, makhana kheer, and many more, all lovingly prepared by
my mother and grandmother to offer to Lord Krishna. My only wish for everyone
this Janmashtami is that Lord Krishna brings happiness and peace to everyone’s
life.
Manmohan Tiwari
I am from Rishikesh; I was born there. Rishikesh is a divine land where
every festival, whether related to Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu, or Lord
Shiva, is celebrated on a grand scale. I was born in a temple, and my
grandfather was the head priest. Our temple had special displays, and during my
childhood, I often played the role of Lord Krishna, while my siblings took on
various other roles. We have very fond memories of those times, and we always
tried to quickly visit other temples to see their displays before participating
on our own. Whenever we portrayed Lord Krishna or other children, we didn't get
the chance to see the displays at other temples because each temple had its own
activities and events going on. There were always some wonderful displays and
happenings. We used to go barefoot, as we didn’t wear slippers in Rishikesh
during those days. These memories are excellent and connected us with our
friends. All the friends and siblings would gather together to celebrate
Janmashtami. At midnight, we would make an offering of panjiri, which we would
then eat. These are beautiful memories. I believe that these days, many
festivals are celebrated on Instagram, but I feel relieved that our devotion
and faith haven’t diminished. Even if we go to the temple to take photos or
make vlogs, I believe that God has created these mediums. Every medium is
created by Him, so if, for any reason, we stay close to God, worship Him,
meditate, and remember Him, I consider all these reasons to be good.
Shivangi Verma
As a child, Janmashtami was always a day filled with excitement and joy.
We would set up a small cradle for baby Krishna and stay up late to celebrate
his birth at midnight with bhajans and sweets. Being born on Janmashtami makes
the day even more special for me—haha, my birthday and the celebration of Lord
Krishna’s birth add an extra layer of meaning. Even though our lives have become
busier, I believe these festivals are still incredibly special. They bring us
back to our roots, reminding us of the values and stories that shape our
culture.
Rushad Rana
I have never really celebrated Janmashtami, but I don’t think the
relevance of festivals is diminishing in our country. In fact, our country
thrives on our festivals, and it will continue to do so. We should never lose
touch with our roots, culture, and traditions, as they are what make India what
it is.
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