Bhubaneswar: Janmashtami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, who is revered in Hindu tradition as the eighth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Krishna acted as a profound social and religious reformer by challenging rigid rituals, promoting spiritual equality, and uplifting marginalized groups.
Lord Krishna was born during a time when the earth was burdened by the tyrannical and fearful rule of his maternal uncle, King Kansa. His birth and eventual defeat of oppressive forces symbolize the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.
According to sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna descended to earth to protect the righteous, vanquish evil forces, and restore dharma (cosmic order and righteousness). Beyond his heroic deeds, Krishna’s childhood pranks, his youth in Vrindavan, and his teachings represent the deep, joyful bond of love, devotion (bhakti), and surrender between the human soul and the divine.
Traditional accounts state that Krishna was born at the stillness of midnight in a prison cell in Mathura. Devotees keep a day-long fast and stay awake in nocturnal prayer, welcoming the divine infant precisely at midnight.
The festival falls on the eighth lunar day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada (August–September). Communities celebrate the day after the birth with festivities like Dahi Handi, which playfully re-enacts infant Krishna’s fondness for stealing butter and curd.