Festivities mark Krishna’s birth

New Delhi, August 26

Societies and residential apartments came alive with vibrant festivities, including elaborately decorated temples, devotional kirtans and cultural performances.

In Adarsh Nagar, the Shri Ram Natak Sangh Kirtan Mandal has been a beacon of tradition for over 50 years. Sunil Khanna, general secretary of the mandal, said, “We decorate the temple much like the ISKCON temple, and we also organise ‘jhankis’ where children aged 10-15 participate. In our ‘dharamshala’, we hold kirtans.”

Khanna emphasised the mandal’s longstanding commitment to celebrating Janmashtami since 1969, adding, “We also celebrate Teej, Navratri, Ram Navami and many other festivals.”

However, not all communities celebrate with the same fervour. At Maitri Apartments in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, the festivities have taken on a more subdued tone in recent years. Geeta Singh, president of the apartment society, explained, “We used to celebrate Janmashtami in full force, but the late-night celebrations, which often go on from 8 pm until midnight, became challenging for the elderly and working residents. Now, we mark the occasion with a kirtan led by the women of the society in the afternoon, from 3 pm to 6 pm. We dance and sing our hearts out in celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth.”

In East Delhi, the streets and lanes of Laxmi Nagar were lit up, with people flocking to the area’s temples. In nearby Shakarpur, preparations for the “dahi handi” event were in full swing. Aditi, a resident of a girls’ PG in the area, described the atmosphere, saying, “There will be a puja at midnight for Lord Kanha’s birth, with bhog prepared for all girls.”

In Sangam Vihar, the community spirit was equally strong. Shubham Gupta, a resident, described the scene. He said, “The lanes are filled with decorations and lights, and preparations for ‘dahi handi’ are underway. Little kids are dressed up as Radha and Krishna, and a dance and music event is planned for the night.”