Lord Krishna's birthday, popularly known as Janmashtami, is one event that witnesses a worldwide celebration. The phenomenon called 'Krishna' is ever eternal and is a universally acclaimed. The mystique Lord casts his spell with his charms on selfless devotion. Lord Krishna is remembered for various reasons and even historians believed his existence on this earth. Indian as well as Western scholars have now accepted the period between 3200 and 3100 BC as the period in which Lord Krishna lived on earth.

Lord Krishna is welcomed on this day, as he was born in the midnight hours. The devotees of Lord Krishna observe fast for the whole day and night, worshiping him and keeping vigil through the night while listening to his tales and  recite hymns from the Gita, sing devotional songs, and chant the mantra 'Om namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.' The celebrations also include ecstatic performances, dance, interactive media shows, children shows and devouring the most delicious of dishes and delicacies prepared especially for the occasion of Janmashtami.

The celebrations will start at 6pm and will last until 12 midnight. Krishna took birth at midnight on the ashtami or the 8th day of the Krishnapaksha or dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September).The Dahi Handi, making rice flour paste patterns outside homes, preparing cold food two days in advance and devouring it on saatham are some of the rituals youngsters in homes are observing during the celebration of Janmashtami. Most wear new dress and visit temples, to mark the birth of the Lord.

In southern India also, Janmashtami is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm. In Tamil Nadu, sweets like murukku and seeddai are prepared specially for the day. Eatables made of milk and curd are also offered to the Lord. In Karnataka, devotees make elaborate preparations for the festival. In most parts of Karnataka, chakli, avalakki and bellada panaka are prepared especially for the festival. While in Andhra Pradesh they make Atukula Payasam and panakam with vadapappu to mark the celebrations.

Nationally Sri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with lot of pomp and show. During the midnight celebration, lord's idol is bathed with Panchamrit and then the cradle is rocked. Devotees fast all day long and break it after the birth of Bhagwan Krishna at midnight. Lord Krishna was very fond of sweets, milk and other milk products like butter and buttermilk, so his devotees make sweets of these products to commemorate the occasion. Sweets like Doodhachi Kheer, Pedha, Gopalkala or Gulabjamun are the major dishes prepared on Janmashtami. Wishesh wishes its readers a 'happy Janmashtami'. Enjoy the day and gets heaps of blessings from the Lord.

(With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)