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| LORD KRISHNA |
The birthday of Lord Krishna, Janmasthami will be celebrated on September 2 this year. Janmastahmi is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Hindu religion in all parts of the country. Lord Krishna was one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar. This day usually falls between August and mid-September every year. Last year, Janmasthami was celebrated on August 14. The Smartha Sects Brahmins have declared Janmasthami to be celebrated on September 1, instead of September 2. Even the government of Andhra Pradesh has announced a holiday for Janmastahmi on September 1.
Krishna Janmasthami is known by different names in different parts of the country. It can be called a Gokulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Krishnashtami, Sree Jayanthi, Saatam Aatham, Janmashtami, and Ashtami Rohini.  Janmasthami is celebrated on eighth day of Krishna Paksh of Shraavan month. The name of this day differs on the basis of where a person lives and what religious belief a person follows. Most people who celebrate this day observe a fast on previous day. For this year, the fast will be observed by people on September 1. The fast is followed by night-long commemoration of birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. At midnight, an idol of Lord Krishna is  bathed and adorned with new clothes and jewelery. At the end of this fast, fast observers perform an aarti, a prayer.
This day is celebrated with enactment of Raas Lila in Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna spent a major part of his life. Raas Lila is the dramatic enactment of flirtatious nature of Krishna’s youth period. Some other parts of the country celebrate Govinda Pathask or Dahi Handi aspects, that is, the mischievous and playful side of Krishna’s life on this day.
Read more: Celebration of Janmasthami - All India Today http://www.allindiatoday.com/8114/celebration-of-janmasthami#ixzz0yPJGVMIe
