Krishna Janmashtami: Hindus celebrate deity of mischief, fun & empathy

August 24, 2019 by Leave a Comment

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24: Americans love the acrobatic feats of the Indian dance crew V. Unbeatable on America’s Got Talent. The crew has racked up more than 25 million views of their AGT video clip! (We’ve got that video, below.)

A dahi handi pyramid in India for Krishna Janmashtami. Photo by Akshay Charegaonkar, courtesy of Fllickr

On August 24, 2019, you’ll see some of the real-life origins of this death-defying cultural expression in Dahi Handi, a hugely popular part of Krishna birthday festivals. In city streets across India, men form towering human pyramids. Around the holiday, type “Dahi Handi” into Google-News and you’ll spot stories and videos of this colorful custom. In recent years, news stories also report efforts to protect these eager participants. Every year, people are injured in these efforts.

The holiday honors the birth of Lord Krishna. Millions will fast as well as indulge in sweets, chant and celebrate. The observance of Krishna Janmashtami lasts eight days in some regions!

The Hindu deity Krishna is also known as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. To devotees, Krishna is the epitome of many characteristics: according to ancient texts, he is a mischievous and fun-loving child, a romantic lover and an empathetic friend.

On Krishna’s birthday, events begin before sunrise and last through midnight. Public and private prayer, both in centuries-old temples and in private homes, can include chanting and singing. Feasts of many dishes are prepared, and dances and dramas depicting the life and ways of Krishna are watched with fanfare. Some devotees dress or decorate statues of Krishna, while others string garlands across temples.

Many Hindus fast until midnight—the official birth time of Krishna. At midnight, those at the temple watch a priest pull apart curtains to reveal a fully dressed figure of Krishna.

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: FROM MUMBAI TO NEPAL

At a celebration for Krishna Janmashtami, 2017. Photo by Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math, courtesy of Flickr

Across India, Krishna’s birthday is commemorated with regional variations. In Mumbai, Pune and in other regions, boys form human pyramids in hopes of having the highest boy break an earthen pot (called a handi) filled with buttermilk, which is tied to a string strung high above the streets. If the pot is broken, buttermilk spills over the group and the boys win prize money. Various groups of boys compete in Dahi Handi, in impersonation of a favorite pastime of the child Krishna: stealing butter. Today, political figures, wealthy individuals and even Bollywood actors contribute to prize money for the Dahi Handi. In some regions of India, younger boys—typically the youngest male in a family—is dressed up like Lord Krishna on Janmashtami. Hindus across Nepal, the U.S., Caribbean and more revel in festivities for Krishna Janmashtami, offering fruit, flowers and coins to the deity and chanting together.

FROM HOME: HOW TO CELEBRATE

Devotees can celebrate Krishna Janmashtami at home, too, with suggestions from Krishna.com:

  • Invite friends and family to participate in festivities
  • Decorate your home for Krisnha with garlands, clothed figures and balloons
  • Check out the webcam views at Krishna.com, which capture temple festivities

Krishna Janmashtami: Pyramids, chanting, fasting commence in India

August 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment

MONDAY, AUGUST 14 and TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 (date varies by country): Millions of Hindus worldwide revel in the spirit of Lord Krishna, fasting, chanting, indulging in sweets and celebrating for the grand festival of Krishna Janmashtami. An observance that lasts eight days in some regions, Krishna Janmashtami honors the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. To devotees, Krishna is the epitome of countless characteristics: according to ancient texts, he is a mischievous and fun-loving child, a romantic lover and an empathetic friend. Worshippers relate to one or more aspects of Krishna’s personality, and legend has it that the deity reciprocates devotions in ways unique for each devotee.

Fast fact: Scriptural details and astrological calculations place Krishna’s birth on July 18, 3228 BCE.

On Krishna Janmashtami, events begin before sunrise and last through midnight. Public and private prayer, both in centuries-old temples and in private homes, can include chanting and singing or a more private praise. Feasts of many dishes are prepared, and dances and dramas depicting the life and ways of Krishna are watched with fanfare. Some devotees dress or decorate statues of Krishna, while others string garlands across temples. Many Hindus fast until midnight—the official birth time of Krishna. At midnight, those at the temple watch a priest pull apart curtains to reveal a fully dressed figure of Krishna.

DAHI HANDI, BUTTERMILK & KRISHNA

Across India, Krishna’s janmashtami is commemorated with regional variations. In Mumbai, Pune and in other regions, boys form human pyramids in hopes of having the highest boy break an earthen pot (called a handi) filled with buttermilk, which is tied to a string strung high above the streets. If the pot is broken, buttermilk spills over the group and the boys win prize money. Various groups compete in Dahi Handi, in impersonation of a favorite pasttime of the child Krishna: stealing butter. Today, political figures, wealthy individuals and even Bollywood actors contribute to prize money for the Dahi Handi.

In some regions of India, younger boys—typically the youngest male in a family—is dressed up like Lord Krishna on Janmashtami. Hindus across Nepal, the U.S., Caribbean and more revel in festivities for Krishna Janmashtami, offering fruit, flowers and coins to the deity.

NEWS: DAHI HANDI PYRAMID RESTRICTIONS IMPACT 2017 FESTIVITIES

The famed Dahi Handi pyramids, formed by young people in efforts to break a hung pot and earn prize money, now face restrictions as the Bombay High Court banned entrants under the age of 18 and limiting the height of the human pyramids to 20 feet last year.

Now named a “dangerous performance,” the long-standing tradition of Krishna Janmashtami causes injuries that are often fatal, as pyramids may reach up to nine stories tall with no means of assistance in the occurrence of falls. (The Hindu reported; The Indian Express has updated on the story, this year.) Still, officials voice uncertainty in verifying the age of Dahi Handi participants, as well as in the heights of the pyramids amid the excitement of the crowded festivities.

Ganesh Chaturthi: Hindus celebrate elephant god in 10-day festival

September 09, 2013 by Leave a Comment

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9: Today begins the annual 10-day celebration of the elephant-shaped deity, Ganesh, across India and in Indian communities around the world. The scale of these festivals—and the style of observance—varies widely across the vast territory of India, but festivities are especially robust in the region from Mumbai to Hyderabad and south. In some cases, communities compete with each other to produce the biggest and best representations of Ganesh. (Some news media spell the English version of Ganesh’s name with “a” on the end.)

Among professional artisans, new figures of Ganesh were started many months ago. Each year, representations range from less than an inch—to more than 70 feet—in height. Many firms across India not only appreciate this mega-festival, but depend on it for their annual welfare. There is even a growing demand for “eco-friendly” clay models, which is raising costs and profits for merchants.

The popularity of Lord Ganesh stems from the words of Lord Shiva, when Shiva declared his son to be superior to all other gods. Hindus believe Ganesh can remove all obstacles on the road to success, and that he is the giver of good fortune. Ganesh is the god of wisdom and prosperity, implored when new ventures begin. (Wikipedia has details.)

GANESH IN MYTHOLOGY:
AN ELEPHANT’S HEAD

Legends of Lord Ganesh vary, but the most common tale begins with the goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Before a bath one day, Parvati sought a guard for her door, so she crafted a young guard out of sandalwood paste and breathed life into it. The young Ganesh faithfully stood guard at her door, and when Lord Shiva returned home, Ganesh—unfamiliar with Shiva—refused to let him pass. Lord Shiva became infuriated. A complicated battle ensued, ending with Shiva beheading Ganesh.

Parvati was enraged and grief stricken; she demanded that Shiva bring him back to life. (Read more at Taj Online.) Other gods sought to help. Seeing an elephant’s mother mourning her dead own son, the gods took the head of the elephant and fixed it onto the body of Ganesh. Thus, an elephant-shaped deity was born. Shiva wound up declaring his son to be greater than any of the other gods.

MODAK SWEETS & MOVES TOWARD INCLUSION

Ganesh Chaturthi kicks off with the installation of Ganesh statues into festooned homes and temporary structures (pandals), where the statues are surrounded by lights, garlands and flowers. Lord Ganesh is honored for 10 days with mantras, rituals and prayer. Sweet dumplings known as modak, made from rice and wheat flour and stuffed with dry coconut and fruit, are all the rage during the festival—primarily because it was a favorite treat of Lord Ganesh.

A more public Ganesh Chaturthi began in the 17th century, although it wasn’t until two centuries later that organizers emphasized that the festivities were intended to bring together all castes and ages, labeling Lord Ganesha as “the god for everybody.” Public performances, dances, theatrics and free medical checkups gather Hindus throughout the festival, and on the 11th day (or earlier, in some localities), statues are paraded through streets before being immersed in a nearby body of water. Adherents believe that submersion symbolizes a send-off of Lord Ganesh, who carries with him devotees’ misfortunes back to his home in Kailash.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
& REBIRTH OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS

Ganesh figurines were originally crafted from earthen clay and returned to the soil after the festival, symbolizing the cycle of creation—until plaster of Paris (aka gypsum plaster) became more popular for mass production because of its cost effectiveness, ease of use and better finish. Ease didn’t come without a price, however, and the insolubility of Plaster of Paris—along with the chemical paints used to decorate the idols—spelled disaster for local bodies of water. Acid levels in the water skyrocketed, heavy metals became major polluters and beaches became cluttered with leftover adornments.

The government began suggesting several alternatives, such as the return to use of clay models; immersion into a bucket of water at home; the use of a permanent statue, made of stone or brass, that can be reused every year; or the use of other biodegradable materials, like papier-mâché, to create the figures. Devotees are quickly snapping up all suggestions, and many shops are returning to the age-old art of using earthen clay. (This article features interviews with multiple ‘green’ devotees.)

Indian news sources have been buzzing with reports on where Bollywood stars will spend Ganesh Chaturthi, which movies will be released on Sept. 9 for auspicious reasons, and how the rise in Ganesha idol costs will impact worshippers. Western Indian residents will be digging deep into their pockets for the expensive, low-calorie and sugar-free alternatives to traditional modaks. (Read the details at dna India.)

Yet no topic is more widely reported this year than “green” Ganpati, or Ganesh figures. So concerned is the government that the Goa Handicraft Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) has subsidized more than 50,000 “green” statues this year. Compared to just five years ago, the number of subsidized “green” figurines has almost doubled.