Know all about Janmashtami and the famous ritual of 'Dahi-handi'
India TodayJanmashtami is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. Krishna Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or Janmashtami is a Hindu festival which is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. To celebrate the festival, all the Lord Krishna temples are decorated, processions, bhajans, kirtan and satsang meetings are organised at various places to celebrate his birth Hare Krishna devotees dance to chanting and drum music at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple in Watford during the Janmashtami Festival. The boy who stands at the top is called Govinda and the groups are either called handis or mandals Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai.Image: Getty images Devotees also observe a day-long fast on Krishna Janmashtami and break it on the next day when the Ashtami Tithi is over. In some parts of the country, Janmashtami celebrations go on for more than a day too People in Tamil Nadu draw beautiful patterns called Kolam, made with rice batter on the entrances of their houses and tiny footprints of Bal Gopala entering their houses Vrindavan, which is about 20 km from Mathura, is also an important place associated with Lord Krishna's life.