Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna,is being celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in Ranchi and its adjoining areas in Jharkhand.
Today marks the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadon.Apart from the devotees keeping fast for the whole day,many of them offered puja to Bhagwan Krishna.
Tonight,devotees also celebrate the festival by participating in the Dahi Handi contest,following a tradition of the Brij or Braj where Bhagwan Krishna is believed to have often broke milk pots of cow maids.Since this was a wrong doing,He was duly punished by His mother Yashoda,according to the traditional belief.
To commemorate this act of Bhagwan Krisna , his devotees try to enact the same play to mark the celebrations.The play has a plot.The organisers hang a pot carrying curd up in a pole.The devotees are expected to break it.Whosover tries to break it is met with water showered by ladies who act as milk maids.
Apparently,this sacred ritual was a combination of spirituality and adventure.It was held in Braj and others parts of the country.In Ranchi,Dahi Handi competition was started last year on the day of Janamashthami.
Organised by a group led by former Speaker of Jharkhand Assembly CP Singh,it was held at Albert Ekka Chowk.Hundreds of devotees flocked the chowk to witness the event.
The actual celebration of Janmashtami takes place during the midnight as Sri Krishna took birth on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and violence of his uncle, Kansa. All over India this day is celebrated with devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna.
