Krishna Janmashtami

This is a Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu's eighth avatar on Earth. The birth of Lord Krishna represents the triumph of good over evil. On the day of Krishna Janmashtami, Lord Krishna devotees offer prayers, and various rituals inspired by the life of Baby Krishna are held throughout the country.  

Devotees observe fasting, sing devotional songs, and engage in various rituals to honor Krishna. In Maharashtra, Dahi Handi is organized on local and regional scales. A human pyramid is formed in order to break an earthen pot filled with buttermilk. There is huge competition and prizes worth lakhs are announced as rewards for these events. In Uttar Pradesh, devotees in large number visit Krishna temples in the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan on this day.  As a symbol of His birth, the deity's idol is kept in a small cradle and prayers are offered. Bhajans and Bhagvad Gita recitals are done on this day.