Gokulashtami/ Janmashtami (जन्माष्टमी) is a Hindu Festival celebrated to rejoice the birth of Lord Krishna . It is an annual festival and falls in the month of August - September as per Gregorian Calender and if we go by Hindu Almanac it falls in the month of Shravana or Bhadrapada depending on when the Ashtami Thithi coincides with Rohini Star during the Krishna Paksha . Krishna paksha is the phase from Full Moon day to New Moon day (Waning period) .
**post updated with new recipes on 16th August 2022
Lord Krishna is considered to be the 8th avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna as we all know was very cheerful ,bubbly and naughty as a child and the image that comes to our mind is of baby Krishna with a handful of butter , pranking and playing around with Gopikas
There is no doubt that Krishna Bhagwan is everyone's favorite and hence his birth is celebrated with pomp,cheer and gaiety at homes as well as temples.
People at home decorate the idols of Krishna with flowers ,tulsi and fragrant garlands and also symbolically decorate a small cradle with an idol of baby Krishna to welcome his birth.
In south India ,we draw Rangoli outside our home and also draw small baby foot steps from the main entrance till the pooja stand inside as a mark of welcoming a little crawling Krishna into our homes .we call it as Krishnar Paadam in Tamil.
We prepare and offer many goodies that are Kaanha ji's favorites especially made out of milk,butter and ghee which were his eternal favorites. Offerings made from Aval/Poha/Beaten rice is a must as Aval is symbolic of prosperity and pure friendship or Saakhyam between Krishna and Sudama .
In Maharashtra and Gujarat Sabudana Vada ,Sabudana Chiwda , Faraali Pattice are some of the items made as part of Chappan bhog and offered ..chappan bhog is an elaborate offering of 56 items to the Lord .
Today in this post ,I am sharing links of sweets and savories which are made in most South Indian homes unfailingly every Krishna Janmashtami and offer it to the our dear Maakhan Chor .
Sweets
Navaneetham/Navneeth/Makkan Mishri
Aval Payasam with coconut milk (Poha kheer - Vegan )
Aval Payasam with milk (poha kheer)
Savories
Uppu Seedai (small deep fried rice balls)
Thengol / Thenguzhal (Honey pipes)
Poha Chiwda / Aval Mixture (Beaten rice crispies )
There is no particular hard and fast rule as to what one needs to offer ,if you are pressed for time or circumstances prevent you from offering an elaborate spread ,you can just offer Navaneetham/Makkan Mishri (Butter & sugar) and Gopalkaala/ Thayir Aval (Beaten rice and curd) along with Tulsi leaves . TULSI is very scared for Lord Krishna and he loves and accepts anything that is offered whole heartedly with pure devotion.
We Generally offer 5 varieties of fruits,curd ,buttermilk,plain milk thamboolam (betel leaves , betel nuts) and Sukku Vellam (Ginger jaggery)
Lovely write up on the Krishna janmashtami festival. You have a lovely collection of prasadams too, both sweet and savoury.
ReplyDeleteLovely collection of recipes for Krishna Janmasthmi. Would love to try the seedai recipe sometime.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading through the various prasad for Krishna /Janmashtami A good collection indeed. Will try to make one of these soonest possible. It is always good to have a such a compilation of recipes.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful decoration to celebrate Janmashtami. Loved reading about the tradition you follow. What a wonderful collection of recipes that one can prepare to offer as prasadam to Kahnaji.
ReplyDeleteWow these are Krishna Padam! I used to wonder. Loved your collection and explanation on how to celebrate Gokulasthmi.
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