Janmashtami News from India

[Aupmanyav]

1. Western India is playing its favorite game: Dahi-Handi. A clay pot is dangled on a rope between two building and teams are asked to build human pyramids to reach the pot (handi which had curd in it) and break it. The team which succeeds gets a cash award. "In 2012, a mandal called Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, made an entry into the Guinness World Record by forming a human pyramid of 9-tiers 43.79 feet (13.35 m) at the Dahi Handi event held in Thane" (Wikipedia). This has now been out-lawed because of the danger to the participants when even under-age children were asked to for the highest tiers. Now only adults can participate. In 2012, 225 Govindas (as the pyramid formers are called) were hurt in the fall. Now the handi can be only up to 20 feet (which will mean about 5 tiers). The highest award to the winning team (as I checked) was 22,000 USD.

In spite of the Supreme Court order, Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena, a break-way faction of Shiva Sena, defied the Supreme Court orders and put the handi at 40+ feet. I think it is foolishness, but Shiva Sena and Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena are political outfits for whom the foolish/rougish things are normal.

2. Swaraj Ahmad (I think his name might be Siraj Ahmad) in Mathura has made big earthern handis for this Janmashtrami. The biggest one will be surrounded by four slightly smaller ones. Let me see if I can find an image. Not yet.

3. TV news channels are showing photos of children in Krishna/Radha costumes.

4. Try to see it live here: http://www.india.com/hindi-news/oth...rations-from-dwarka-vrindavan-mathura-iskcon/

5. Govinda songs from Indian (Bollywood, as we call them here) films.

6. The business from dresses of Balagopala is likely to cross 45 million USD in North India.
http://www.patrika.com/news/mathura...l-cross-three-hundred-crore-turnover-1381632/

7. People are liking Balagopala idols and swings made in Aligarh. They can cost up to USD 150.
http://www.patrika.com/news/aligarh/brass-statues-of-krishna-sales-rise-on-janmashtami-2016-1382517/

8. Year 2016 Janmashtami is being held with special astrological configeration which has happened after 52 years. Bhadrapada, Krishna paksha (dark fortnight), Ashtami with Rohini Nakshatra. For 44 minutes after 12 pm. You may check the time in Drik Panchanga giving your longitude and lattitude.
http://www.punjabkesari.in/lent-and-festival/news/sri-krishna-janmashtami-507940

9. Six things necessary for Lord Krishna's visit: Flute, Cow or at least a picture of cow, peacock feather, lotus flower, Mishri/Makhan (Rock Candy/Butter) and Vaijayanti garland (made of lotus seeds).
http://www.patrika.com/news/mp-reli...i-why-krishna-loves-these-six-things-1381539/

I will keep on adding news. Of course, Gujarat, Mathura, Vrindavan and many other states and cities will be engaged in their Janmashtami celebrations.

 

[BSM1]

Looks like the government wussed out handi-ly.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Chhappan Bhog:

As an offering to the Lord, people put together a list of 56 food items, referred to as the Chappan Bhog. The word ‘Chappan’ translated to 56, and ‘Bhog’ means food. Wondering why there are specifically 56 items? The story goes that to protect his village and the people from the wrath of The God of Rain (Lord Indra), Krishna ji had lifted the Govardhan Parvat and placed it at the tip of his little finger, under which everyone had taken refuge. He stood still for seven whole days continuously, until Lord Indra realised his mistake. Lord Krishna would usually eat eight food items every day, but he didn’t consume any food during these seven days. So at the end of the seventh day, everyone made Krishna ji a total of 56 dishes (eight multiplied by seven), out of gratitude.

As legend had it, it consists of Lord Krishna’s favourite dishes and usually includes cereal, fruits, dry fruits, sweets, drinks, namkeen and pickles in quantities of seven under each category. There are also variations wherein some people offer 16 kinds of namkeen (salty items), 20 kinds of sweets and 20 kinds of dry fruits. Some of the common items found in the Chappan Bhog are makhan mishri, kheer, rasgulla, jeera ladoo, jalebi, rabri, mathri, malpua, mohanbhog, chutney, murabba, saag, dahi, rice, dal, kadi, ghewar, chila, papad, moong dal ka halwa, pakoda, khichadi, brinjal ka sabji, lauki ka sabji, poori, badam milk, tikkis, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and elachi among others. The bhog is traditionally arranged in a particular sequence, starting with milk items, moving on the besan-based treats and salty food, and ending with sweets, dry fruits and cardamom.

 

[Aupmanyav]

As you perhaps know, India is facing a serious flood situation in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (floods have subsided in Rajasthan, Uttarkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand). Hundreds of people have died. But there are a few good news. Two babies were born on rescue boats today - Ganga in Patna and Krishna in Birpur. May they live long and happy lives.

Birpur Krishna (but this krishna is fair), Vaishali Krishna, mother of Sinha village Radha.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Janmashtami passed off peacefully, i.e., no terrorist action. The world cannot even imagine what arrangement that requires when crowds gather in millions at tens of thousand places all over India. Sri Krishna sharanam mama. Images posted at Google within the last 24 hours ("janmashtami 2016"):

https://www.google.co.in/search?q="...ow=1&tbm=isch&tbs=qdr:d&imgrc=Qur38dIfYFQGUM:

 

[निताइ dasa]

Jaya Nitai! Happy everyone had an awesome Janamasthami. May Radha-naath Sri Krsna protect you all and keep His grace over you! Sharing one of my favorite verses in glorification of Sri Krsna (written by Rupa Goswami.)

"rasäsära-susärorur
asurärih sasära sah
samsäräsir asau räse
suriramsuh sa-särasah"

"Filled with transcendental amorous desire, the son of Nanda, who showers forth nectar, whose thighs are strong, who is the enemy of the demons, and who is the sword that cuts down the cycle of repeated birth and death, entered the räsa dance, holding a lotus flower"

{see here the genius of Rupa Goswami!. In this verse he describes the rasa dance of Sri Krsna, and therefore he decides to use only the consonants "ra: and "sa" to compose the whole verse and in perfect meter too!")

 

[jyoti82]

1. Western India is playing its favorite game: Dahi-Handi. A clay pot is dangled on a rope between two building and teams are asked to build human pyramids to reach the pot (handi which had curd in it) and break it. The team which succeeds gets a cash award. "In 2012, a mandal called Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, made an entry into the Guinness World Record by forming a human pyramid of 9-tiers 43.79 feet (13.35 m) at the Dahi Handi event held in Thane" (Wikipedia). This has now been out-lawed because of the danger to the participants when even under-age children were asked to for the highest tiers. Now only adults can participate. In 2012, 225 Govindas (as the pyramid formers are called) were hurt in the fall. Now the handi can be only up to 20 feet (which will mean about 5 tiers). The highest award to the winning team (as I checked) was 22,000 USD.

In spite of the Supreme Court order, Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena, a break-way faction of Shiva Sena, defied the Supreme Court orders and put the handi at 40+ feet. I think it is foolishness, but Shiva Sena and Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena are political outfits for whom the foolish/rougish things are normal.

2. Swaraj Ahmad (I think his name might be Siraj Ahmad) in Mathura has made big earthern handis for this Janmashtrami. The biggest one will be surrounded by four slightly smaller ones. Let me see if I can find an image. Not yet.

3. TV news channels are showing photos of children in Krishna/Radha costumes.

4. Try to see it live here: http://www.india.com/hindi-news/oth...rations-from-dwarka-vrindavan-mathura-iskcon/

5. Govinda songs from Indian (Bollywood, as we call them here) films.

6. The business from dresses of Balagopala is likely to cross 45 million USD in North India.
http://www.patrika.com/news/mathura...l-cross-three-hundred-crore-turnover-1381632/

7. People are liking Balagopala idols and swings made in Aligarh. They can cost up to USD 150.
http://www.patrika.com/news/aligarh/brass-statues-of-krishna-sales-rise-on-janmashtami-2016-1382517/

8. Year 2016 Janmashtami is being held with special astrological configeration which has happened after 52 years. Bhadrapada, Krishna paksha (dark fortnight), Ashtami with Rohini Nakshatra. For 44 minutes after 12 pm. You may check the time in Drik Panchanga giving your longitude and lattitude.
http://www.punjabkesari.in/lent-and-festival/news/sri-krishna-janmashtami-507940

9. Six things necessary for Lord Krishna's visit: Flute, Cow or at least a picture of cow, peacock feather, lotus flower, Mishri/Makhan (Rock Candy/Butter) and Vaijayanti garland (made of lotus seeds).
http://www.patrika.com/news/mp-reli...i-why-krishna-loves-these-six-things-1381539/

I will keep on adding news. Of course, Gujarat, Mathura, Vrindavan and many other states and cities will be engaged in their Janmashtami celebrations.

 

[jyoti82]

Very interesting information anout Janmastami. In my city the big celebration was yesterday. I missed it cuz my friend had surgery. I had to help her. I went to the Ganesha temple today and I got to swing Krishna and there was aarti for Kris

1. Western India is playing its favorite game: Dahi-Handi. A clay pot is dangled on a rope between two building and teams are asked to build human pyramids to reach the pot (handi which had curd in it) and break it. The team which succeeds gets a cash award. "In 2012, a mandal called Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, made an entry into the Guinness World Record by forming a human pyramid of 9-tiers 43.79 feet (13.35 m) at the Dahi Handi event held in Thane" (Wikipedia). This has now been out-lawed because of the danger to the participants when even under-age children were asked to for the highest tiers. Now only adults can participate. In 2012, 225 Govindas (as the pyramid formers are called) were hurt in the fall. Now the handi can be only up to 20 feet (which will mean about 5 tiers). The highest award to the winning team (as I checked) was 22,000 USD.

In spite of the Supreme Court order, Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena, a break-way faction of Shiva Sena, defied the Supreme Court orders and put the handi at 40+ feet. I think it is foolishness, but Shiva Sena and Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena are political outfits for whom the foolish/rougish things are normal.

2. Swaraj Ahmad (I think his name might be Siraj Ahmad) in Mathura has made big earthern handis for this Janmashtrami. The biggest one will be surrounded by four slightly smaller ones. Let me see if I can find an image. Not yet.

3. TV news channels are showing photos of children in Krishna/Radha costumes.

4. Try to see it live here: http://www.india.com/hindi-news/oth...rations-from-dwarka-vrindavan-mathura-iskcon/

5. Govinda songs from Indian (Bollywood, as we call them here) films.

6. The business from dresses of Balagopala is likely to cross 45 million USD in North India.
http://www.patrika.com/news/mathura...l-cross-three-hundred-crore-turnover-1381632/

7. People are liking Balagopala idols and swings made in Aligarh. They can cost up to USD 150.
http://www.patrika.com/news/aligarh/brass-statues-of-krishna-sales-rise-on-janmashtami-2016-1382517/

8. Year 2016 Janmashtami is being held with special astrological configeration which has happened after 52 years. Bhadrapada, Krishna paksha (dark fortnight), Ashtami with Rohini Nakshatra. For 44 minutes after 12 pm. You may check the time in Drik Panchanga giving your longitude and lattitude.
http://www.punjabkesari.in/lent-and-festival/news/sri-krishna-janmashtami-507940

9. Six things necessary for Lord Krishna's visit: Flute, Cow or at least a picture of cow, peacock feather, lotus flower, Mishri/Makhan (Rock Candy/Butter) and Vaijayanti garland (made of lotus seeds).
http://www.patrika.com/news/mp-reli...i-why-krishna-loves-these-six-things-1381539/

I will keep on adding news. Of course, Gujarat, Mathura, Vrindavan and many other states and cities will be engaged in their Janmashtami celebrations.

 

[jyoti82]

Janmashtami passed off peacefully, i.e., no terrorist action. The world cannot even imagine what arrangement that requires when crowds gather in millions at tens of thousand places all over India. Sri Krishna sharanam mama. Images posted at Google within the last 24 hours ("janmashtami 2016"):

View attachment 14191 View attachment 14192 View attachment 14193 View attachment 14194 View attachment 14195

https://www.google.co.in/search?q="Janmashtami+2016"&newwindow=1&rlz=1C1LENP_enIN576IN576&espv=2&biw=1455&bih=705&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjE6Ov7j97OAhVKqY8KHXX4AhIQ_AUIBigB#q="Janmashtami+2016"&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbs=qdr:d&imgrc=Qur38dIfYFQGUM:

Looks like the government wussed out handi-ly.

 

[jyoti82]

View attachment 14200

I am new on this site. Just having some trouble posting. I was writing about Janmastami. I wasn't finished writing and it got posted. Then I posted a pic of krishna in his swing and I don't know where that ended up. I am on an android phone.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Jyoti, the forum allows you to delete unwanted posts within 24 hours of posting. Do not worry about the initial hiccups. You will come to know.

Some bad news here: As I mentioned some Dahi-handi organizations flouted the height rules of Supreme Court. Two boys, a 12 year-old and a 9-year old, have been seriously hurt in falls. There have been many other injuries and 34 are being treated in the hospitals. The police has registered cases against such organizers. I hope this will not be repeated next year.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/defiance-of-sc-hits-new-height-128-govindas-hurt.html

The same is the case with Jallikattu (bull race of Tamilnadu where they stop a bull by hanging on to its hump), the stone-throwing holi of some villages and babies thrown from roof for good luck or rolled in cow-dung. It is time that we stop such superstitious practices.