Krishna Janmashtami is the festival to commemorate the birthday of Lord Shri Krishna, who is the avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to have come into the world approximately 5000 years ago, in Mathura in the 'Dwapar Yuga'.
Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, and sometimes simply as Janmashtami. It is, in essence, a Hindu celebration.
The festival is usually celebrated on Ashtami Tithi, the 8th day in the Dark Half, or Krishna Paksha, the name given to the month Bhadrapada according to the Hindu calendar, which is the month when you can see that Rohini Nakshatra is in the ascendency. According to the Gregorian calendar, it is typically during both August and September.
The celebration is celebrated with enthusiasm and energy by Hindus across India and worldwide. The people observe a fast throughout the day, sing songs, and offer prayers at midnight to celebrate the birth of the Lord. Ras Lila, dramatic reenactments of Krishna's life is a unique feature performed throughout the country as they recreate the flirtatious facets of Krishna's youth.
Another fascinating part of the Krishna Janmashtami is Dahi-Handi, a game played in the temples. This game depicts the playful and fun aspect of Krishna, where teams of young men make human pyramids to climb an overhanging butter pot and then break it.
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