Janmashtami celebrated all over India with fervour
New Delhi/Mathura: The auspicious festival of Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, was celebrated across the country with great enthusiasm. Temples in Delhi
were decorated with flowers and colourful lights on the occasion. Special security
arrangements were made at temples including the Birla Mandir, Jhandewalan,
the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON), Chhattarpur and the
Gauri Shankar Mandir. According to police, CCTV cameras and watch towers were
installed around these temples to keep a close watch on potential suspects
to avoid any untoward incident. Security has also been tightened at all the market
places. In Uttar Pradesh, the festival was being celebrated with enthusiasm, peace
and gaiety. The temples, especially those at Mathura and Vrindavan and ISKCON
temples in several cities of the state were decorated for the occasion. At
the Bankey Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, the Krishna Janma Bhoomi and Dwarakadhish
Temple in Mathura, the festival was celebrated at night. Devotees performed the 'Mangla
Darshan' at midnight. Adequate security arrangements were made in Mathura.
The railways announced the plying of seven special trains for devotees coming
to Mathura to celebrate Janmashtami. A day earlier on Wednesday temples
across India decked up to celebrate the day. "On the occasion of Janmashtami,
the dresses that have been stitched for the deity are mostly of yellow colour,
because yellow colour is the favourite of Lord Krishna. All the other accessories
that have been used for the god are mostly of yellow colour," said Ashish Goswami,
a priest. "For the lighting and decoration in the temples, we have kept in mind
that yellow colour is used. The jewellery used for Lord Krishna is also of yellow
colour; all the stones used in the jewellery are of yellow colour," he added.
The ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple in Imphal
is also decorated with lights to welcome the devotees. "We are preparing two days'
festival and on Janmashtami day, we are having students' painting competition
and a seminar on science and spirituality for peace, and Janmashtami's special
Raas leela dance. This year, we have one special item, that is 'Krishna leela',"
said Ajit Prabhu, President of the ISKCON temple, Imphal.
