[sadhuji]

Janmashtami is the day Lord Krishna was born – the day is celebrated with much fanfare in all parts of the country. In recent years, ISKCON has set up branches in all corners of the world to spread the messages of the Lord. The festivities begin at midnight and the dahi handi program that follows is now being marketed by the Maharastra Tourism department. The young boys and girls (yes, girls have also begun participating!) of the neighborhood vie with one another for the beautiful contents of the handi (earthen pot) that is kept at least fifty feet above the ground. The participants have to form a human pyramid and break the pot to lay hands on the cash prize. The amount runs into lakhs of rupees and is sufficient incentive for joining in the festivities. It is but natural that there are failed attempts before the teams finally achieve success – and, once the pyramid collapses, there are bound to be casualties in the form of broken limbs. Hence, ambulances and doctors are always on standby and local hospitals are kept ready to accommodate the injured at short notice.

[jyotirmoy]

It is a great sight...

[priya]

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.......

[batistuta]

I did spend Janmasthami in a Hare-krishna ashram and it was wonderful. I will post a report on that soon.

[sadhuji]

jyotirmoy, on Sep 4 2007, 06:26 AM, said:

It is a great sight...

All the TV channels had this unique competition as its only news worthy of following meticulously throughout the day. Lord Krishna was famous for stealing the goodies made of milk that his mother and other women in the neighborhood would keep hidden from his prying eyes. The items were butter, curd, pure milk and milk products. That is what the celebration of dahi-handi is all about. Dahi means curd and handi means an earthen container. The package is kept at a sufficient distance above the ground and a group of modern day Govinda (this was the name by which Lord Krishna was called in his childhood) tries to lay hands on the booty which runs into substantial figures thanks to political patronage and sponsorships of corporate houses. The point to note is that the crescendo to which the climax rises in Mumbai is not seen in any other part of the country. This is strange because Lord Krishna’s favorite haunts were Mathura in UP and Dwarka in Gujarat. Mumbai has given a new dimension to it. The credit must go to the organizers who have realized the tremendous business potentials of festivities of this nature. Till recently, the Ganapati festival used to be the money spinner of Maharastra apart from Dandya during Navratri – now Janmashtami has got added to the list. Trust the financial capital of the country to set the trends in finance generation.

[diyasp]

HI. I  was in Vrindavan last week. ISKCON Krishna balaram Mandir in Vrindavan is beautiful. I also visited ISKCON Akshaya Patra temple. They hae a massive kitchen that caters midday meals to thousands of school children around the area. I have the pictures in my blogspot. The link is my signature.