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Bhubaneswar, August 24: The city celebrated ‘Janmashtami’ — the festival signifying the birth of Lord Krishna — Wednesday.
Schools, particularly those for tots, conducted events and competitions at which children dressed up as Krishna or presented mythological tales.
Saraswati Sishu Vidyamandir conducted ‘Krishna Vesha Pratiyogita’ for its students. “The event was organised to create help the children become spiritually conscious in addition to gaining other knowledge. All the children who participated were under the age of 7.
Teachers judged them according to their skills in acting and speaking, and the way they had dressed up. The winners received trophies and the other participants were given consolation prizes,” Ranjan Parida, a teacher, said.
Children St Xavier’s International school, in turn, chronicled the story of Kirshna’s birth. DAV schools in the city conducted several activities to mark the occasion.
Devotees thronged Ram Mandir and ISKON temple even before daybreak. Janmashtami celebrations started at Ram Mandir from 4.15 am with the mangal aarti. It was followed by the offering of various oblations to the deity and presentation of the Lord in various attires. The temple authorities had made special arrangements to ensure that the devotees enjoyed hassles-free darshan.
The ISKCON temple, too, witnessed a seemingly endless stream of devotees throughout the day. Pujas began with an ‘avishek’ that marked the time Krishna was born. The deity was bathed with panchamrit — a mixture of curd, milk, gangajal, honey and ghee. The deity envisioned as a baby, ‘ladu gopal’, is decorated with new garments, ornaments, the flute, and peacock plume.
A maha aarti was performed by lighting 108 earthen lamps. The deity was also offered the mahabhog, a feast involving 56 types of sweetmeats. The day’s pujas concluded with the sayahn aarti that symbolises preparing the lord for bedtime.
The temple administration also organised various religious activities including bhajans, chanting of mantras and special competitions for schoolchildren on the temple premises. In the evening, a special discourse was held on the birth of Krishna.
“According to legend, Lord Krishna took birth to destroy Kansa in Dwapar Yugo. He punished Kansa for his misdeeds. In this age, Krishna is born in our heart to destroy sinful mind. He shows us the path to righteousness,” Sanghamitra Mishra, a devotee, said.
