Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna who is considered as Lord Vishnu’s incarnation. According to the Hindu calendar, Krishna was born on the eighth day of Shravan month.
Krishna Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or Janmashtami is a Hindu festival which is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. He is believed to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
In the Hindu calendar, the festival always falls on Ashtami, which is the eighth day of Krishna Pasha - - or the waning moon. Janmashtami is usually celebrated in the months of August or September.
The majority of temples organise recitation of holy books, Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita
The celebration takes place in two parts, Jhulanotsav and Ghatas. During Juhlanotsav, Krishna devotees put swings in their homes and place God's idol inside. Then, the idol is bathed in milk and honey and adorned with jewellery and new clothes.
The popular ritual of 'Dahi - Handi' is also celebrated on this day. Boys gather in a compound and form a human pyramid to break the earthen pot fixed at a height of 20 - 30 feet from the ground. The boy who stands at the top is called Govinda and the groups are either called handis or mandals.