Janmashtami celebrated in Bengal

Janmashtami, marking the birthday of Lord Krishna, was celebrated on Thursday with gaitey and religious fervour across West Bengal.

A three day festivity that began on Wednesday at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Nadia district's Mayapur saw prayers, dances by young devotees clad like the Lord, as also other religious rituals.

The order was also celebrating the divine appearance day of its founder AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupad, born a day after Janmashtami on September 1, 1896.

The whole temple campus, illuminated with dazzling lights and decorared with fragrant and colourful flowers and tulsi leaves, saw thousands of devotees from across the world converge on the twin occasions

The "Mahaabishek" (grand coronation) of the Lord was performed, while Bhaktivedanta Academy students chanted Vedic mantras through the day.

Lord Krishna adorned a set of newly stitched gorgeous silk dress, and his body was embellished with ornaments and garlands.

Variety of sweet delicacies prepared of pure milk, besides dishes like luchi, kachauri, rice, fries, curries, lentils, were offered to the Lord.

The delicacies were later distributed to devotees as "Mahaprasadam".

Elsewhere in the state, temples were lit up and held special prayers.

Janmashtami was also celebrated in households, with worship, and offering of sweets and other delicacies to the Lord.

--IANS

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