The festival of Krishna Ashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the ten incarnations of Hindu Lord Vishnu. The Hindu community in Nepal celebrates this festival with lot of fanfare. Devotees of Lord Krishna observe fast, consuming only fruits and milk products. They visit temples in huge numbers to have the darshan of their lord. They take processions in the streets of the towns carrying bedecked idols and images of the Lord. Often the procession is accompanied by a band of musicians.

Fast Facts

Month	September
Nature	Hindu Festival
Celebrated On	7th day of the dark lunar fortnight in August or September
Reason of Celebration	Birth Anniversary of Lord Krishna
Special Event(s)	A procession moves around the town displaying the pictures of Lord Krishna

The Celebration
Sri Krishna Janmastami also known as Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami is not only celebrated in Nepal with great vigor but also in India, its neighboring country.

• People consider this day an occasion great rejoicing. The 'Bhagavataam' (Bhagwat Ramayan, the story of Lord Krishna), is recited. Rhymes are sung and devotees pray. Temples are profusely adorned for the auspicios occasion. Kirtans are sung, the conch is blown, bells are rung, and Sanskrit hymns are recited to admire incredible deeds of Lord Krishna.
• Religious ceremonies observed in Patan Durbar Square is famous all over Nepal. The devotees gather in the temple and offer prayers, flowers, food and sweets to the Lord.
• Sacred devotional music is played all night.
• People observe fast till midnight. It is believed that Krishna was born at midnight.
• At midnight, devotees throng temples to take part in the special 'Aarati'. Birth of Krishna is relived. People sing and dance with great joy. Beautiful cradles are installed in temples and small idols of the 'Balgopal' are placed in them.

Myth of the Birth
Krishna was the eighth son of King Vasudeva and Devki of Mathura. He had taken birth on earth to kill his wicked maternal uncle Kansa. He stayed on the earth for 125 years. He came across the people as if he was an ordinary person, but the learned knew that he was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself. His deeds were miraculous. He is commonly paired with his beloved Radha although Rukmani was his wife.

Lord Krishna lived his life by his own famous saying which can be translated in English as "Thy right is to work only, but never with its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive, nor let thy attachment be to inaction." Bhagvad Gita is the compilation of the teachings of Lord Krishna.