Janmashtami Vrat Katha

Janmashtami falls on the Ashtami (eighth day) of the waning moon in Bhadrapad. Traditionally, devotees fast through the day, decorate temples and homes with scenes from Krishna's life, and adorn a swing for Laddu Gopal. At midnight, the hour of Krishna's birth, conches and bells sound, baby Krishna is bathed with milk and curd, butter-sugar and panjiri are offered, and then the fast is broken. In many places Dahi Handi is held the next day.

Kansa, king of Mathura, was a cruel tyrant. After his cousin Devaki married Vasudev, Kansa himself was driving their chariot. Then a voice from the sky said: 'Fool, the eighth son of the one you carry so lovingly will be your death.' Kansa drew his sword at once.

Vasudev pleaded, 'Do not kill Devaki. I will hand over every child of ours to you.' Kansa threw them both into prison. One by one he killed six of Devaki's sons. The seventh was moved by Yogmaya into the womb of Rohini, and so Balram was born.

On a dark, rainy midnight in Bhadrapad, Shri Krishna appeared as the eighth son. He first showed himself in his four-armed form, then became an ordinary baby. At that moment the guards fell into deep sleep and the prison doors opened by themselves. Vasudev carried the baby out in a basket. The flooded Yamuna made way, and Sheshnag spread his hoods above them as shelter.

That same night in Gokul, Yashoda, wife of Nand Baba, had given birth to a baby girl. Vasudev left Krishna there and brought the girl back. In the morning Kansa tried to dash her against a stone, but she slipped from his hands, rose into the sky as the Devi and said, 'The one who will slay you is already born.' Meanwhile, in Gokul, the celebration of Nand's son began.