Janmashtami: Celebrate Lord Krishna's birth with joy and devotion! - 4 September 2026

A sensory feast for the soul

Embrace the spirit of Krishna Janmashtami, a vibrant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, it's a revered and cherished festival in the Vaishnavism tradition. Prepare to be swept away by the celebratory customs – grand festivals, readings of Bhagwad Gita, captivating dance-dramas depicting Krishna's life, devotional singing culminating at midnight (Krishna's birth hour), and even traditional fasting (upavas).

The joyous celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami engulf India as Hindus across the nation embrace a vibrant mix of traditions. Join millions of devotees as they observe fasts, immerse in joyful singing and heartfelt prayers, visit Krishna temples beautifully decorated with flowers and lights, and offer prayers to the deity. The aroma of delicious food fills the air, a prelude to the celebratory meals prepared and shared with loved ones. Participate in night vigils and stay up late in anticipation of Krishna's birth.

Krishna Janmashtami isn't just a celebration, it's an immersive experience that awakens all your senses. Come, be a part of this spectacular festival unfolding across India!

Let the festivities begin!

The festival falls on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in either the Shravan or Bhadrapada month according to the Hindu calendar. While the festival is celebrated across India, to experience Janmashtami at its best, you may embark on a pilgrimage to Mathura and Vrindavan, the heartland of Krishna's story, and witness these holy cities come alive with throngs of devotees. In some temples, the days leading up to Janmashtami are filled with the rhythmic recitations of the sacred Bhagavad Gita.

You’ll be dazzled by captivating dance-dramas like Raas Leela (Rasa Lila) or Krishna Lila. These vibrant performances, often enacted by passionate local communities, bring to life stories from Krishna's life, usually based on the sacred text Bhagavat Purana. The tradition of Rasa Lila is particularly popular in the Mathura region, northeastern states like Manipur and Assam, and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These theatrical displays begin days before Janmashtami, adding to the growing anticipation as the festival approaches.

After the symbolic midnight birth of Krishna, devotees bathe and dress murtis (idols) depicting the infant Lord. These murtis are then placed in cradles, and the faithful break their fasts, sharing sweets and delectable food in a joyous celebration. Women add a special touch by drawing tiny footprints outside their homes, symbolising Krishna's journey into their dwellings and their hearts. The sight of children dressed up as little Radha and Krishna, and their infectious enthusiasm will steal your heart away!

Behold the human pyramids of Dahi Handi

Krishna Janmashtami's festivities culminate in the electrifying Dahi Handi, celebrated the following day. Prepare to stand in awe as this unique ritual unfolds before your eyes!

A large earthenware pot, overflowing with a delicious concoction of milk, curd, butter, honey, and fruits, is hoisted high – anywhere from 20 to 40 feet! Here's where the real spectacle begins. Energetic young men and boys form a daring human pyramid, each participant standing on the shoulders of the one below. Watch in amazement as they climb higher and higher, their teamwork and agility on display for all to see. The topmost player reaches the coveted pot, smashes it open, and showers himself and his team with the sweet reward. But the fun doesn't stop there! Often, currency notes are tied to the rope suspending the pot, adding a financial incentive to this exhilarating feat. The prize money is then shared amongst the courageous participants who formed the human pyramid. Head to Mumbai, Goa or Gujarat to experience this spectacle as these are the places where Dahi Handi is mainly celebrated.

Dahi Handi draws inspiration from Lord Krishna's playful childhood. Legend has it that Krishna, known for his love of butter, would steal pots of milk and curd from neighbouring houses. To safeguard their treats, the women would hang them high above his reach. But Krishna, ever resourceful, would form human pyramids with his friends to reach the delicious pots! So, don't miss the chance to witness Dahi Handi, a truly unforgettable experience during Krishna Janmashtami celebrations.

A feast fit for a playful God!

Many sumptuous dishes are offered to Lord Krishna, with a special emphasis on 'makhan' (butter) - a nod to his childhood fondness for it. The deity is also celebrated with a culinary extravaganza called Chhapan Bhog, a grand offering of 56 delectable dishes. Travel to Puri, Odisha, and witness this tradition in all its glory. Here, the iconic Jagannath Temple becomes the centre stage for a mouthwatering display. Fifty-six varieties of sweets and savoury treats are lovingly prepared and offered to Lord Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra.

'Bhog' itself signifies a wholehearted offering of food to the deity, making the feast not just delicious but deeply meaningful. Keeping in mind Krishna's playful childhood spent around cows and relishing dairy products, the bhog features a delightful array of treats such as the melt-in-your-mouth pedas (milk-based sweets), the rich and sweet panjiri (made with dry fruits), or the creamy kheer (rice pudding). For a taste of the savoury, picture crispy sabudana vadas (sago fritters) bursting with flavour, or the delightful contrast of sweet and salty in seedai and thattai (snacks made with Bengal gram flour and rice).

Krishna's birth: A night of destiny

The story of Lord Krishna’s birth, mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the Mahabharata, and the Puranas, is a fascinating tale of miracles and hope.

Krishna's arrival was shrouded in danger. His birthplace was a prison in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where his parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were held captive by Kansa, the tyrannical king and Krishna’s maternal uncle. A prophecy warned Kansa that Devaki's eighth son would kill him. Driven by fear, Kansa imprisoned the couple and ruthlessly killed their first six children. However, divine intervention ensured the seventh child, Balarama, was safely transferred to another of Vasudeva's wives, Rohini.

Finally, the eighth night arrived, and as a dramatic thunderstorm raged, Krishna was born. Miraculous events unfolded, symbolising the arrival of a divine being. The prison shackles on Vasudeva shattered, guards fell into a deep sleep, the prison gates swung open, and even the overflowing Yamuna River parted, creating a safe path for Vasudeva to carry his newborn son to safety. This night marked the beginning of Krishna's extraordinary life, a life destined to challenge evil and establish righteousness.

Come and experience the enchanting festivities of Krishna Janmashtami in India, where vibrant celebrations and cultural traditions await! - incredibleindia.gov.in/

Shiva Moon

 

At last it happened
you
who elicit a thousand sighs
...across timeless sands, resounding seas
silent mountains and whispering trees
thousands pouring out a longing heart
just knowing a beloved echoes the same
this enigma of a pleasure mingled in pain
just
looking at you
is reminiscent of being ONE,
so the question is:
who were you mooning over,moon
is the beloved so near
it must be true
you bend
to give a forehead kiss.

( Written on the day of the supermoon 2 days ago.
Shiva, the mountain God ,wears a moon as adornment on his forehead or matty locks.The waxing and waning of the moon, which in itself is always full, is just a veil. just as our Self is always luminous and prisitine, and full. While the moon enchantingly locks itself in shiva's matty hair ,so too the Self projects crescents of ascent and descent involution and evolution.Shiva wearing the moon as adornment is an esoteric symbol of one who knows the self timelessly.)

`Shail Gulhati is the author of
SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. The Yogi and the snake Shiva Poetry NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine
And Life Said.

THE RIDER OF A TIMELESS TIME.

 

THE RIDER OF A TIMELESS TIME.

He is the Rider

of a timeless time.

the knower He is ,

of the uknown sign

The dancer of the Universe

at the start of it all

He is the poet and writer of the whole

His single poem is the making of the world.

He is the keeper of our breath

in this whirlwind space we call life.

He is Shiva the lord, Mahadev.

the ONE we love

The great God, Shiv,

"What is below?: He says, "What indeed Above?"

"You are all my own" , whispers softly

the down to earth ruler of the sky

Aum Namah Shivaye!

~ From the book ' Shiva poetry ' by Shail Gulhati

When is it possible to actually get God to accept your gifts?

 

AUM NAMAH SHIVAYE.

Dear friends and Shiva bhakts,
this is an amazing pic from the net. A bhaktin does Abhishek of a Shivalinga somewhere near the banks of a holy river town- probably Haridwar or Rishikesh, and we note that Lord Shiva virtually pops up to give blessings. Her efforts have born fruit. But we also see something startling: Shiva is drenched with the potions of the Abhishek!

Is this possible? Can an offering on a stone image thousands of miles away actually reach a chosen personage? Practically speaking, this is an impossibility, a type of wishful thinking.

But we in India, have long had the tradition of sharing even our food with our God first in a similar manner, and we call this 'Bhog lagana'- 'To make God partake in our feast, knowing that all comes from Him anyway', and because according to the ancient rishis, anything was possible for God,we would do well to understand that this painted scene means to convey a higher message:

When you do something with your body and mind and also pour your soul into it, when Namah Shivaye becomes Mano Shivaye, Tano Shivaye, Dhano Shivaye, metaphorically speaking, ' Shiva is drenched with your love' . He can no longer resist giving you His Darsana.When you offer Him everything you have, your body ( karma)  your mind ( gyana) , and your very soul ( raja yoga) , knowing that all these come from Him, then your worship with the combination of all these  blossoms into a great Bhakti bhava, and Shiva ,who is Aashotosh, ( easily  pleased ), will come to your very doorstep. His Idol in your heart and mandir both, will begin to shine with a divine luminescence for ever after.

Aum Namah Shivaye!

Shail Gulhati author of SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

THE TEST

 

THE TEST

Sati did an astounding thing: She went to the forest, changed Herself into a Sita look-alike and approached the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana as they were trekking through their sorrow.

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

A dance of Time

 

Shiva knew a perfect stillness.
When He sat alone, He was in deepest oneness, always. When He closed His eyes in self-repose, a most enigmatic dance presented itself to Him; a dance of Time; where the past and the future got animated as players and themselves entertained Him , like performers in a carnival. It had dawned on Him that He was an eternal witness, and thus too, the realisation that the story of all life, was His story.

Life was like a repeated throw of dice, and He knew, somehow the dice rolled from His hand. But He was not always in control of how the dice would roll.This was the interesting thing:
It was a story whose end was fixed, but the journey itself was always unknown; a completely uncharted flight to a known destination. The play seemed to be in the remembrance of the simple knowledge that all would be well by the end. But no one knew when, not even He.

The challenge was to hang onto the exciting act, with just a vague but comforting belief that though He appeared to be one of many actors, He was also the scriptwriter; That life would always have a secret to be known, but He was the encryptor.
This smug feeling was only strengthened each time He met the familiar beloveds. With each bunch of new acts that would be played out, in all the new stories that came into being, there was a flood of intimations from the past, accompanied by a great remembrance of the power that He Himself was.

( From the book SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.)
A modern storytelling of Great God Shiva and Sati's story 

RUDRA- THE WIELDER OF THUNDERBOLTS

 

RUDRA- THE WIELDER OF THUNDERBOLTS

Rudra was more comfortable in the forest; Always at home with the naturally established order of Nature, of life itself.

Perhaps that is why He allowed stories about Himself to be floated and rumoured among the city people. It did not trouble Him at all that tales about ‘The Terrible Rudra’ abounded. This was quite in character with society: If you were not present in its midst, you became the subject of talk. If you were not present to affirm or deny what was being said, anything could be said about you! Society relished rumours, and Rudra was a favourite in fuelling their imagination.

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

Sheran Waali, Lady of the lions!

 

Parvati was different from the very beginning. She was well loved by everyone, She played with the girls of Her age, She won the love of Her elders and admiration of Her palace staff, but She was different. There was always a sense of knowership in Her, as if She knew that She was someone very special, born for a very special destiny. But this was not in a conceited way at all. She did not have even an iota of arrogance, even though She was easily the prettiest among all the girls in the whole province.

She was good at Her studies and all the rishis who came to teach Her gave Her an excellent report card. “She can do even better, if She wants,” said Bhrighu one day to Himavat. “But…”
“But?”

“But I have noticed, your Majesty, that Parvati puts in only as much effort as is required to get the basics right. She could excel in anything that She wants, and to be honest She does all things very well, but then, I have noticed, She leaves it at a level of ‘fairly good’, and weans off. It is as if She has Her heart in something else.”

“Hmm… like what?”

"Like, She hardly plays with Her  dolls, She keeps making Shivalingas in the sand.”
“The only thing that interests Her about the dolls, is when a  doll  marriage is arranged!”

“Yes! Yes, that’s true,” said Mena. “I have to make new dresses for the doll bride, and Parvati insists that I make many sweetmeats in the kitchen!”

“Hmm… does She still say She will marry Shiva?” Himavat asked Mena.
“Oh, come on, She is just a child. And those things are very far. Who knows who will marry whom?”

“Shiva. It will always be Shiva,” said Bhrighu with a solemn look.

“Always be Shiva what?” asked Mena.

“It will always be Shiva, whom Shakti marries. It was so in the past, and it will be so in future,” said Bhrighu, his eyes now half closed in meditative bliss. 

"My Lord! My Lord ,what is one to do with Princess Parvati?” asked the captain of the private guard of Himavat’s security.

“Why, captain? What has Parvati done?” smiled Himavat.

“My Lord, She goes after the mountain leopards and panthers, catches them and then pats them as if they are little kittens. It’s dangerous my Lord, this sort of play.”

“But do not all princes play with the wild cats as if they were our domesticated cats? Is it not part of their training and even courage?” asked Himavat.

“Yes, my Lord, but we must not forget that Parvati is all of eight years! And my Lord… She is a girl!”

“Hmm… you are right, captain. I think Parvati deserves a new title for this trait,” laughed Himavat loudly. “From now on we should call Her, Sheran Waali, Lady of the lions!”

“Haha, what are you gentlemen discussing about my little Goddess?” chipped in Mena. “Parvati is luminous, resplendent; She is Jyotan Waali, the embodiment of light…”

From the book ~  SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.    , a modern rendition of Great God Shiva's story by Shail Gulhati