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🌼 Nand Mahotsav 🌼
॥ ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमः ॥
🚩 Nand Mahotsav 2024 🚩
About Nand Mahotsav
Celebrating Gokulashtami in three states of India, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra has special significance because God has performed special leelas at these places. Shri Krishna ji was born on the holy land of Uttar Pradesh, childhood was spent doing captivating pranks like stealing butter, breaking pots filled with milk, curd, love with Radha ji etc. The holy land of Gujarat is of pranks and in Maharashtra, there are games related to Shri Krishna’s childish stubbornness and mischiefs which are famous all over the world. For the Dahi Handi competition, the contestants work hard throughout the year.
Janmashtami festival is celebrated with great pomp all over the world. This festival is known by different names in different places like Krishnashtami, Satam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Shri Krishna Jayanti and Krishna Janmashtami etc. According to the Hindu calendar, it is customary to celebrate Krishna Ashtami on the eighth day of the new moon of the month of Bhadra.
In Gokul and Nandgaon of Braj Mandal region, a special Nandotsav or Nand Utsav is organized on the second day of Shri Krishna’s birth anniversary. According to the scriptures, after the birth of Shri Krishna at midnight in Mathura, the city of Kansa, all the soldiers fall asleep and Vasudev’s chains open. Then Vasudev leaves Krishna Lala at Nand Rai’s place in Gokul. Gradually, the news that Lala has been born in Nand Rai’s house spreads in Gokul. Therefore, the ‘Nandotsav’ festival is celebrated in Gokul on the second day of Shri Krishna’s birth. Nandotsav is celebrated in the entire Braj Mandal on the Navami of Bhadrapad month.
The birth of Shri Krishna is not just a matter of worship but is celebrated as a festival. In this festival, after offering camphor, turmeric, curd, ghee, oil, saffron and water etc. on the idol of the Lord, people consume these things with great joy. Bhajans are sung and dances are performed during the celebration of this festival throughout North India.
Dadhikando Festival: Nandotsav festival is also celebrated as Dadhikando. Dadhikando means a mixture of curd and Kandha. That is, Holi is celebrated on the birth of Krishna with curd mixed with saffron or turmeric. On this day, Holi is played with curd mixed with saffron or turmeric during the day in entire North India and in the evening, household priests in temples wear the disguise of Baba Nand and Maiyya Yashoda and rock the cradle of Krishna-Lala. Sweets, fruits, dry fruits and sugar candy are distributed as prasad. Devotees consider themselves blessed after receiving this prasad.
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✨Krishna Janmashtami Puja Vidhi:✨
- Retiring from bath etc. this morning resolve to worship Lord Shri Krishna by observing Janmashtami fast.
- In the morning while chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Krishnaya Vasudevaya Govindaya Namo Namah, spread a yellow cloth on the post and establish the Kalash.
- Sit on the asana facing east. Keep sandalwood, akshat, flowers, tulsi leaves, rakshasutra, seasonal fruits, butter, mishri, khoyan prasad etc. in the worship plate.
- Light a ghee lamp on the right side of the post. After that worship Devaki Mata and Vasudevji. Also worship Nanda Baba and Yashoda Maiya. Also worship Chandradev.
- At 8 pm cut a cucumber and place an idol of Bal Gopal in it. It means that Lord Krishna is in the womb of Mother Devaki.
- Take out the ladu gopal from the cucumber in the auspicious muhurta. Then fill panchamrit in the conch and anoint Ladu Gopal. Make them beautiful with clothes, ornaments etc. Worship with Akshat, Sandalwood, Incense, Lamp, Gandha, Flowers etc.
- Lord Sri Krishna was born at 12 at night, so you should worship Ladu Gopal at that time. Offer food to them. 11 Light the lamp. Then pray to Lord Krishna to remove your sorrows. Distribute prasad on Bal Gopal’s birth anniversary.
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🍀The worship material:🍀
Lord Krishna’s worship materials include a cucumber, bajot, yellow clean clothes, baby Krishna idol, throne, panchamrut, Ganges water, lamp, curd, honey, milk, ghee, incense stick, Gokulashta, sandalwood, akshata and basil leaves, butter, misri bhog material.
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🌺 Dahi-handi🌺
Krishan is also called Makhan Chor or Navneet Chor because he used to steal curd, buttermilk, butter, ghee, and milk from neighbouring houses. When Yashoda was fed up with Krishna’s stealing habit of butter and curd she and other Gopis decided to hang the pots of curd, butter, and milk from the ceiling. But our little Krishna was so mischievous that he used to team up with his friends and form a human pyramid to reach the hung curd. Then they used to remove or break the pot and shared butter among themselves.
To remember these cute mischiefs of Lord Dahi-handi is organized on the second day of Krishna Janmashtami. Here dahi means curd and handi means pot. It’s hung around 20 to 30 feet in height and pots are filled with curd, butter, sweets and nuts, coloured water, flowers, etc. But most of the time it’s filled with some milk products. Young boys who participate in this are called Govinda. They form a human pyramid and reach the handi and break it. Competitions are also held in this category. The main objective behind this is to develop brotherhood, coordination, and strength among young people.
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Krishna Janmashtami 2024 Date and Time:
Shri Krishna Jayanti Yoga
5251st Birth Anniversary of Lord Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami: Monday, August 26, 2024
Nishita Puja Time – 12:33 AM to 01:18 AM, Aug 27
Duration – 00 Hours 45 Mins
Dahi Handi on Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Parana as per Dharma Shastra
Parana Time: after 03:38 PM, Aug 27
On Parana Day Rohini Nakshatra End Time: 03:38 PM
On Parana Day Ashtami got over before Sunrise
Alternate Parana as per Dharma Shastra
Parana Time – after 06:35 AM, Aug 27
Parana can be done on the next day sunrise after Deva Puja, Visarjan etc.
Parana as per modern tradition in society
Parana Time – after 01:18 AM, Aug 27
at many places in India, Parana is done after Nishita i.e. Hindu midnight
Mid Night Moment – 12:56 AM, Aug 27
Chandrodaya Moment – 12:11 AM, Aug 27 Krishna Dashami
Ashtami Tithi Begins – 03:39 AM on Aug 26, 2024
Ashtami Tithi Ends – 02:19 AM on Aug 27, 2024
Rohini Nakshatra Begins – 03:55 PM on Aug 26, 2024
Rohini Nakshatra Ends – 03:38 PM on Aug 27, 2024
🌷🌼🌻
Nand Mahotsav :
🌼 Nand Mahotsav 🌼
Nanda festival has more importance than Janmashtami festival in Gokul. The festival is celebrated at the house of Nandaray and Yashodaji on the day after Janmashtami i.e. Shravan Sud Nom. Gokula residents spoil the joy of Krishna Janmotsava by throwing chocolates, toys and currency coins. After that, the Matkifod program is celebrated colorfully in Chowk-Chokari of Gokul.
The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with devotion all over the country, but joining the Krishnajanma celebrations at holy shrines associated with Krishna’s life is a precious addition to life.
Gokul:Gokul is the land of Krishna’s childhood. Nanda festival has more importance than Janmashtami festival in Gokul. This festival is celebrated at the house of Nandaray and Yashodaji on the day after Janmashtami i.e. Shravan Sud Nom. Who are Krishna’s foster parents.
On the day of Janmashtami, Lord Krishna is adorned. One of Vraja’s sons is dressed in Nandaraya’s parivesh and the son becomes Yashodamayya. Then the residents of Vraj happily sprinkle each other with abeel, gulal, turmeric and attar and dance to the rhythm of various instruments and make their mouths salty. As the people of Gokul cradle Nandalal in his cradle, chanting hymns, hymns and patanas are sung by the Vrajbalas of the Janmotsava vadhi gaan. Nandarayji worships Chhadhi. which blesses the child and provides protection from bad elements. Nandarayji and Yashodamayya donate a cow to the Brahmins. Devotional food is served to Daridranarayan.
Nandgavas and Gokula’s
Nand Gher Anand Bheho… Jai Kanaiya Lal Ki…,
hathi-ghoda-Palkhi Jai Kanaiya Lal Ki………
creates a divine atmosphere of Krishna devotion. Nandarayji and Yashodamayya perform Nútya with the gopis of Vraja. Milk, curd and turmeric, sandalwood are obtained and sprinkled with pitchkari on the prospective devotees before performing in a circle. At that time, a divine atmosphere is created as if Brahmananda had gathered. Gokula residents spoil the joy of Krishna Janmotsava by throwing chocolates, toys and currency coins. After that, Matkiphod program is celebrated colorfully in Chowk-Chokari of Gokul. Thus, the Nanda festival is completed.
Mathura: Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna. At the culmination of the Janmashtami celebrations, the entire Mathura city is bathed in colour. Mathura city flourishes with colorful lights and flower tora. Scenes of Krishna Leela are seen everywhere in Mathuranagari. On this day, the Lord is worshiped in various ways from early morning. At midnight, the Lord’s idol is bathed with water from Panchamrut and various rivers and the Lord is dressed in traditional designs. At exactly twelve o’clock the Lord is cradled with the greetings of Krishna Janmotsava. The entire city of Mathura resounds with the tune of conch shells, bells, krishna and various instruments. After the worship is over, the Lord is treated to Chhappanbhoga. Prasad of chhappanbhoga leaves the healthy Krishna devotees fasting. Jhulnotsav and Ghata are organized in Mathura. To celebrate the birth of Krishna, cradles are placed in the courtyards of houses and temples and decorated with flowers. All the temples in Mathuranagari are artistically painted with Axman color. On this day, the Lord is also dressed in the same color. Bhavika devotees and residents of Mathura leave no stone unturned in celebrating Krishna Janmotsava.
Vrindavan: Viharbhoomi of Srishyam-Shyama means Sri Vrindavandham. In Vrindavan, the Rasalila and the wonderful Leelas with the gopis performed by Lord Krishna are of great importance. Raaslila and Krishnalila plays are held everywhere in Vrindavan. The Vrajavasi perform dramatizations of various events in the life of Krishna. Every boy and girl here are dressed up as Radha-Krishna and plays rasalila. Under the Kadam tree, Priya-Preetam is swung on a carousel of flowers. Lord Krishna and Radha performed Rasotsav at various places like Madhuvan here. It is said that even today the Lord comes to Madhuvan to perform rasa with the gopis. If a person enters Madhuvan by mistake at night, he dies or becomes insane. So, there is a folklore that this place becomes deserted at night. On the morning of Janmashtami, a Rasalila is organized in Madhuvan.
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🌼Mantra For Krishna Janmashtami:🌼
दिने दिने नवं नवं नमामि नन्दसंभवम्।
dine dine navaṃ navaṃ namāmi nandasaṃbhavam।
English translation:
Every day in new ways, I worship Nandkumar.
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ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः।
अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः सर्वेकारणकारणम् ॥
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ saccidānandavigrahaḥ।
anādirādirgovindaḥ sarvekāraṇakāraṇam॥
English translation:
Lord Krishna, who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, and He is the prime cause of all causes.
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भजे व्रजैकमण्डनं समस्तपापखण्डनं स्वभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं सदैव नन्दनन्दनम्।
सुपिच्छगुच्छमस्तकं सुनादवेणुहस्तकं अनङ्गरङ्गसागरं नमामि कृष्णनागरम्॥
bhaje vrajaikamaṇḍanaṃ samastapāpakhaṇḍanaṃ svabhaktacittarañjanaṃ sadaiva nandanandanam।
supicchagucchamastakaṃ sunādaveṇuhastakaṃ anaṅgaraṅgasāgaraṃ namāmi kṛṣṇanāgaram॥
English translation:
I worship the naughty Krishna, who is the joy of Nanda. the only ornament of Vraja, who destroys all the sins (of his devotees), who satisfies the desires of his devotees. Who wears a peacock feather on his head, who plays a flute with a sweet sound, and Who is the ocean of the art of love.
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