| Hindu devotees throng temples to mark... |
| Tuesday, 26 August 2008 | |
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In young Anuradha’s words it was ‘Krishna bhagwan’s birthday’. That is all the seven-year-old is told every time she visits Karachi from Tando Mohammad Khan at this time of the year to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna at the Shiv Mandir in Clifton. The entire temple was decorated for the occasion and lit with earthen lamps (diyas) to welcome the Lord on Sunday night. As the clock grew closer to midnight, hundreds of Hindus from different parts of Karachi and Interior Sindh began crowding at the temple to observe the Krishna Jayanti, also known as Janmashtami. Preparations for the festival were in full swing since evening as Hindu devotees set the stage where the deity of (infant) Krishna was placed to be bathed. “It’s a ritual. We bathe His statue just like that of a baby at the time of birth,” informs Kishan Faqeera, a local devotee at the temple. After bathing, the deity was placed in a cradle and worshipped as devotees performed the Aarthi, worshipped the Lord and recited hymns in His praise through the night. The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated at midnight because according to Hindu mythology, He was born at midnight. The birthday falls on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the second dark fortnight in the month of Shravana according to the Hindu lunar calendar. “This is one of the most sacred and greatest of all Hindu festivals,” adds Lakkhu, Anuradha’s father, who is visiting Karachi along with 40 other people from his district. Female devotees from parts of Interior Sindh particularly stood out from the crowd due to their bright coloured saris, most of them trying to conceal their shyness behind the Pallus draped over their heads. Lakkhu informed that most Hindus used this opportunity to pay a visit to other temples in the city as well especially the Shri Hanuman Mandir in Soldier Bazaar, Ranchore Lines Temple and the Swami Narayan Temple on M.A. Jinnah Road – the other big temples in the city where celebrations were in full-swing as well for two days. The significance of this festival, he explained: “There are two kinds of fasts. One can be observed for 12 hours and another for 24 depending on the devotee. The 24-hour-long fast breaks at sunrise after the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth through the night.” The devotees prefer ending the fast with yoghurt, milk or butter as it is believed that Lord Krishna was fond of butter. Krishna Jayanti is especially significant from the viewpoint of establishing Righteousness (Dharma) and surrendering to the Lord. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna’s saga was one of the greatest. “He was an unchallenged hero in terms of his physical powers and intelligence. His birth day instills in us the spark of Divine power and we are able to deal with hard realities in life with a sense of spiritual purpose,” added Lakkhu when asked about the night-long prayers. |
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