Malu Sharma
Janmashtami preparations are in full swing in the city of Temples. Markets are flooded with idols of Krishna in all shapes and sizes and other decorative items needed to celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna.
Shopkeepers are doing brisk business as devotees throng market to buy things needed to celebrate the festival. According to a shop owner, with people willing to set up Krishan Jhula at their homes, clay idols, colourful dresses and handicraft articles are in huge demand.
“We have a wide variety of designer dresses from Dwarikadeeh Mohallah of Mathura, mukuts (crowns), haar (necklace), jhoola and bansuri for devotees this festival” said Ankit Tandon, a shopkeeper at Chowk adding, “The price range is from Rs 100 to Rs 2,500″. The fancy swings and also colourful and designer dress for Kanha are flying off the shelves”, shared Gopal, a local shopkeeper.
Decorative items such as glittering Mukuts, Pearl Haars, Jhule, Bansuri and Morpankh are in great demand. Prime city markets including Pakka Danga, Moti Bazar, City Chowk, Gandhi Nagar witnessed huge crowd of people purchasing tableaux items.
“Since childhood we have been following all the rituals associated with Janmashtami. My kids are enthusiastic about setting up tableaux and a Krishan Jhula at home. So, every year we create a scene, depicting different phases of Lord Krishna’s life, including his childhood as Makhan Chor. We decorate the Puja room with colourful lights and other decorative items and place a Jhula there in which small idol of Bal Krishna is kept”, shared Nirmal Kerni, a home maker.
Meena Devi, 75 yr old said, “We perform puja at home every year. The Idol of Lord Krishna is placed inside a Jhula, which signifies his birth. We celebrate Krishna’s birthday by singing bhajans. A special puja is performed at night and after that ‘Prasad – Panjiri, Panchamrut is distributed to everyone. Being the elder member of the family it is my duty and responsibility to make the younger one understand the rituals and respect our culture.”
Many devotees fast whole day and break it only at the stroke of midnight after Lord Krishna’s birth, while others show their devotion by fasting for two days on Janmashtami. It is believed that Lord Krishna took birth at the midnight between the first and the second day. Therefore, the actual festivities begin at midnight in this 48-hour period.
While people are busy preparing for the festival, sweet shops in the city have also come up with special menus. Till ke Ladoo and Seeyul ke Ladoo are the famous sweets prepared specially on the eve of Janmashtmi.
