Janmashtami 2019: Celebrating Krishna’s birth in Puri, Odisha

Janmashtami, the day when Lord Krishna was born, is a Hindu festival that is celebrated across the country with much enthusiasm and fervor. The pretty beach town of Puri in Odisha too celebrates Krishna’s birthday at the famous ISKCON temple in very different and interesting manner, and people from across the globe visit Puri just to be a part of the festivities.
From performing raas leela, organising jhakis, and dahi handi, Puri Janmashtami is amazing, and once in a lifetime opportunity. The famous Jagannath Temple in Puri remains crowded with thousands of devotees, which include men, women, and kids of all age groups, who come here seeking God’s blessings.

The unusual bhog and the belief behind

One of the best parts of Puri Janmashtami festivities is the special kind of bhog that is prepared and offered to the Lord. This special bhog is called the Jeuda bhog, and it is believed that this bhog helps ease the labour pain of the deity. And then the deity gives birth to Lord Krishna and Rama, the avatars of Lord Vishnu.
All the deities inside the Jagannath Temple are decorated in new clothes and jewellery. Then at midnight, the statue of Lord Krishna in his childhood form is kept in jhoola, which is decorated with flowers.

Special arrangements for darshan are made at various temples in Puri, including Bayababa Math, Jagannath Puri Temple, Ram Mandir, and ISKCON. Devotees start lining outside the temples from early in the morning, and stay there till after midnight.