Udipi; August 05: The day to recollect childhood memories of Lord Shree Krishna is fast approaching once again and all the Asta Matas in Udipi (eight monasteries) are getting prepared for the celebration of Krishnaastami and Vitlapindi, which falls on August 28 and 29^th respectively.

Krishna Janmaastami is observed on the Astami Thithi, the eighth day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini Nakshatra is ascendant. This festival always falls within mid-August to mid-September in the Gregorian calendar.

Janmashtami is celebrated with fervor in India. Various kinds of sweets/eatables like Murukku (Chakli) Thengolalu, Bengal gram, sweet beaten rice, Rava unde, Kodubale, Usli, Astami Unde and eatables made of milk and curd etc are prepared to make offerings to Lord Krishna. Joyful chanting of Lords name takes place. The number of temples dedicated to Sri Krishna is few.

During the occasion Asta Matas are organizing various competitions such as drawings, paintings, fancy dresses, children are dressed in different forms of Shree Krishna such as Bala Krishna, Muddu Krishna, BenneKrishna and tiger dances which dominate most part of the celebration, these are all to glorify the childhood memories of Lord Shree Krishna and are being conducted for the people of coastal region, particularly the children and winner will be rewarded with gifts. There is also a practice of putting Lot of devotees from different parts of the region are arriving to witness this grand event.

The festivity of Janmashtami will be incomplete without singing bhajans or hymns in praise of lord Krishna. There are various bhajans describing the feats and accomplishments of Lord.

The festivities include various rituals being followed religiously. Temples all over India engage in various ceremonies and prayers in honour of Lord Krishna. Chanting of shlokas, readings from religious texts, singing devotional songs and dance performances are a common sight.

On the following day of Shree Krishnaastami in car street (Ratha beedhi) “Mosaru Kudike’ (Dahi handi) the flirtatious aspects of Krishna’s youthful days and God’s playful and mischievous side, wherein a long and lengthy areca nut tree is erected with oil applied on it and on the top of the tree an earthen pot filled with money is kept and teams of young men form human pyramid to reach to that pot and burst it with stick to own the money kept inside the pot.

During the celebration period people from in and around udipi are fully enjoying the event and are totally immersed in deep devotion.