Krishna Janmashtami, also called Gokulashtami, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna.
According to the Hindu calendar, it falls in the month of Sravana while in the Gregorian calendar, it falls in the month of August or September.
rishna Janmashtami festival is celebrated over the course of 2-3 days by Hindus all over the world. During the festival, drama-dance enactments of the life of Lord Krishna is played out in ‘Krishna Lilas’. This is followed by all-night vigils with the singing of devotional songs, fasting, and a festival the following day where specially made sweets and delicacies are distributed and enjoyed by all.
To celebrate the day, Krishna temples are decorated; processions are taken out, while religious sites dedicated to the Blue God see a host of bhajans and kirtans taking place along with satsangs. Many places host dance-drama enactments of the life of Krishna according to the Bhagavata Purana, devotional singing through the midnight when Krishna was born, fasting, a night vigil (ratri jagaran), and a festival the following day to celebrate his birth.
The sole reason of celebrating this festival is bringing people together so that principles of unity strengthen. Dahi Handi is another important aspect of this festival that is observed in the second day of Janmashtami. As a kid Lord Krishna was named "Makhanchor" or the one who steals butter.
Dahi Handi is an event where the same butter stealing activity of Lord Krishna is narrated. An earthen pot or handi is filled with butter, clarified butter or ghee, dry fruits, and milk is suspended at a considerable height with help of ropes. All the local young guys gather to make a human pyramid and climb on each other to reach the handi and break it.