Janmashtami aarti live-streamed amid pandemic-hit celebrations

Lucknow: Offering prayers amid sound of conch shells and temple bells, devotees across the city celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna with enthusiasm.

Devotees flocked to the vibrantly-lit ISKCON temple, Sushant Golf City, with fervour and observed the rituals to mark Krishna Janmashtami. Celebrations to mark the arrival of Lord Krishna were marked by fireworks and floral showers.

Giving a virtual tour to its devotees, rituals of ‘maha-abhishekh’ and bhajans by ‘Vrindavan Bhakt Mandali’ were also streamed live online on temple’s Facebook and YouTube page. The aarti to celebrate Krishna’s birthday was also telecast live at midnight, while cultural performances and competitions were also organised inside the premises.

“On Janmashtami, we got special attire embellished with pearls and prepared by the artisans of Vrindavan. On Tuesday, the temple hosted nandotsav and ‘Dahi-Handi’ ritual,” said Aparimay Das, head priest of ISKCON temple.

Hundreds of devotees also visited Daliganj’s Madhav Mandir and New Hyderabad’s Khatu Shyam temple on Janmashtami.

The digitally animated ‘jhanki’ organised at New Ganeshganj began with ‘govardhan leela’. “For the past 18 years, we have been putting digital jhanki’s portraying life of Lord Krishna. They will be on display till September 4,” said organiser Anupam Mittal. Devotees gathered in large number to see the tableaus put up at Reserve Police Lines.