According to Scriptures the incarnation of Lord Shri Krishna took place in 3228 AD. According to this, the 5250 birth anniversary of Shri Krishna will be celebrated this year in 2023.This year Janamashtami will be of two days that is on 6th and 7th September. Kanha left this world in 3102 AD. According to Vikram Samvat, his age has been 2078 years in Kalyug. This means Lord Krishna lived on earth for 125 years, 6 months, and 6 days. After that, he went to Swadham.
When is Janmashtami, 6th or 7th September 2023?
The astrologer said that the householders will celebrate Janmashtami on Wednesday, 6th September. On this day, auspicious time for worship is also being made in Rohini Nakshatra with Ashtami and night worship. The people of the Vaishnav sect will celebrate Janmashtami on Thursday, 7th September. There is a separate ritual of worshiping Krishna among saints and sanyasis and the Dahi Handi festival will also be celebrated on this day.
How to do birth of Bal Gopal from cucumber ?
At the time of birth, the way the child is separated from the uterus by cutting the umbilical cord. In the same way, at the time of the birth anniversary, there is a tradition of cutting the stalk of cucumber and giving birth to Kanha. Cutting cucumber on Janmashtami means separating Bal Gopal from Mother Devaki’s womb. The process of cutting the stalk from a cucumber is called stem cutting.
Shri Krishna was born on Bhado Krishna Ashtami at midnight in Rohini Nakshatra. On the night of Janmashtami, use cucumber with stalk and little leaves in the worship of Kanha. At noon in the night, cut the stalk of cucumber with a coin and give birth to Kanha. After this, celebrate the arrival of Bal Gopal by blowing the conch and then duly worship Banke Bihari.
Importance of cucumber in Janamashtami puja
On Janmashtami, cucumber is offered to Bal Gopal. It is believed that Lord Krishna is very pleased with cucumber. By offering cucumber, Nandlal takes away all the troubles of the devotees. After worship, cucumbers are distributed as prasad. There is also a belief that if the cucumber with which Kanha’s umbilical cord was pierced, is given to a pregnant woman, then a child will be born like Shri Krishna.
Janmashtami Prasad
- Dhaniya Panjiri
- Mishri Makhan
- Gud ka Harira
- Shrikhand
- Kheer
- Fruits and Satvik Bhojan, Sweets made of milk.
Why and how is Dahi Handi celebrated?
In some places, Dahi Handi is organized on the day of Janamashtami. It is especially important in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The history of Dahi Handi is very interesting. Kanha was very mischievous in his childhood. He was famous for his mischief in the entire village. Kanhaiya loved butter, curd, and curd. He loved butter so much that he along with his friends used to steal butter from village people’s houses and eat it.
To save butter from Kanha, women used to hang the butter pot at a height, but Bal Gopal along with his friends would make a pyramid and steal the butter from the pot hanging at a height. To remember these mischiefs of Krishna, a pot of butter is hung on a height during Janamashtami. The boys make pyramids while singing and dancing and reach the pot and break it. This is called Dahi Handi, the boy who reaches the top is called Govinda.
