Ravi Rohmetra
On the eve of birth of Lord Krishna -the Eighth Avtar of Vishnu, in Jammu region Janmashtami is popular known by the name ” Thogre/ Thakura Da Vrat (Meaning Vrat dedicated to Thakur i.e. Shri Krishna).
Observing a Phalaahari Vrat for complete one day is the Majour Ritual in the Festival.
There are so many names of Krishna like Bal Gopal, Makhan Chor, Ladoo Gopal, Krishan Kaniya, Murli Wala and so many names. Janmanshtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna’s birth on Ashtami signifies his mastery of both the spiritual and material worlds.
He is a great teacher, a spiritual inspiration as well as Politician, on the one hand , he is Yogeshwara , while on the other , he is called Chit Chor, a thief . His behavior includes both extremes. Perhaps this is why the personality of Krishna is so unique and difficult to fathom. The avdhoot is oblivious to the world outside and yet a materialistic person, a Politician or a king is oblivious to the spiritual work but Krishna is both Dwarkadneesh and Yogeshwar.
Lord Krishna is the symbol of possibilities the total blossoming of all aspects of the human and the Divine. Its very difficult to really understand Krishna’s personality. The Rishis called him the full embodiment of the Divine total because all that a human could be , a being could be , is all in Krishna. Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita, ” People think of me as a physical embodiment. I am not the body . “I am the consciousness which is present all over and in everything.
Krishna’s life is noted in the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and Bhagavata Purana. Krishna is the eighth son of Devaki (mother) and Vasudeva (father). Surrounding the time of his birth, persecution was rampant, freedoms were being denied, and King Kamsa’s life was threatened. Krishna was born within a prison in Mathura, India where his parents were constrained by his uncle, Kamsa. During Devaki’s wedding, Kamsa was warned by a celestial voice that Devaki’s eighth son would be the cause of his death. In an effort to defy this prophesy, Kamsa imprisoned Devaki and her husband and promptly killed the first six of her newborns after their birth. The guards responsible for keeping watch over Devaki’s cell fell asleep and the cell doors were miraculously opened at the time of Krishna’s birth. These events allowed Vasudeva to send Krishna across the Yamuna River to his foster parents, Yashoda (mother) and Nanda (father).This legend is celebrated on Janmashtami by people keeping fasts, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna, and keeping a vigil into the night.
Throughout Krishna’s childhood and young adult life, Balarama, Krishna’s half-brother, was a “constant companion” for him. Balarama joined Krishna in the major events that are celebrated in Vraja, Brindavan, Dravarka, and Mathura such as stealing butter, chasing calves, playing in the cow pens, and participating in wrestling matches.
In Jammu region, Janamashtami is popularly known by the name “Thogre/Thakure da Vrat” (meaning Vrat dedicated to Thakur i.e. Shri Krishna). Observing a Phalaahari Vrat for complete one day is the major ritual in the festival. The day is marked by numerous Phalaahari Dhaams or Bhandaras in the streets of Jammu region’s prominent towns.
Janamashtami marks the beginning of the kite-flying season in the Jammu region whereby locals gather and fly decorated kites from their rooftops. While on the other hand, girls and women decorate their palms by applying Teera, dye of an indigenous plant.
Another ceremony associated with Janamashtami in Jammu region is “Deyaa Parna” in which Dogras donate cereal grains in the name of their ancestors & Kuldevtas. A holy tree called jand is worshipped by women on this day. Special rotis called draupads are prepared and offered to cows and deities.
During evening, devotees start assembling at mandirs (temples) and join in singing devotional songs called bhajan or kirtan. Many people dress their children up as a younger version of Krishna. At midnight Shri Krishna Janam is celebrated. Abhishek ceremony of Bal Gopaal is performed and Bhog of Sund Panjiri, Makkhan Mishri & Panchmeva is offered to Bal Gopaal ji.
In Jammu every year Jammu Kashmir Dhararth Trust is celebration with the Sanamtam Dharam Sabha and Darmik youvak mandal is organize a grand RATH YATRA one day before to commemorate the auspicious occasion of Shri Krishna Janamashtmi. This much awaited event will witness devotees and enthusiasts from all corners of Jammu region coming together to pay homage to Lord Krishna the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu on his birthday.
The Shri Krishna Janamashtmi celebration will commence with captivating Rath yatra a religious procession wherein the beautifully adorned chariot carrying the idiols of Shri Krishna and Radha will be towed through the streets, bazaars of Temple city. The procession will be accompanied by enthusiastic Participants both young and old singing devotional songs and chants spreading the message of love, compassion and harmony.
Kashmir Janamashtami is celebrated as Zaram Satam (Janam Saptami) by the native Kashmiri Pandits of Kashmir. The festival is associated with observing a vrat the whole day and visiting the Thokur Kuth (Krishna Mandir) at midnight. At night, puja is performed in the temples which includes performing Abhishek (ritual bath) to the murti of Krishna, and singing bhajans (devotional songs). Food items appropriate for fasting, such as gaer or singhada lapsi (made from water chestnut flour), fruits, and dried fruits are consumed on this day.
(The writer is Social Worker & Writer)
