Assam celebrates Krishna Janmasthami amid COVID

As Lord Krishna is said to have been born at midnight most of the pujas, rituals and naam-kirtans begin in the evening and go on till midnight. Many devout Hindus of Assam keep fast during the day until the Lord is born.

As per Hindu tradition, Shri Krishna was born in Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh) at midnight in jail as his parents Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned by his maternal uncle Kansa.

Lord Krishna is believed to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu who was born on Earth to restore peace and Dharma in the Dwapar Yuga. Janmashtami is usually observed on the eighth day or Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravan or Bhadrapad or Bhada.

Usually, the ISCKON temple in Guwahati celebrates Janmasthami in a grand manner, but this time, celebrations were low key due to COVID. Most Naam Ghars are organizing naam-kirtans but the number of devotees in the Naam Ghar premises has been restricted in keeping with the COVID rules. Most kirtans would begin by evening but would end early unlike earlier times when the celebrations used to go on till midnight.

"We used to organize Naam-Kirtan and cultural functions in the evening. Our celebrations used to go on till past midnight. But today we are going to start Naam Prasanga by 4 pm and wind up early. Due to the present situation, our Naam Ghar committee has decided that it would not be safe and wise to continue until late at night. We are following all COVID norms therefore we will ensure that the number of devotees inside the Naam Ghar does not turn into a crowd. It will be a limited gathering," Ramen Das, Secretary, Last Gate Naam Ghar told Sentinel Assam.

Even the Paltan Bazar Naam Ghar would organize Naam by 2 pm and end the celebrations by 6 pm. "Like every year we will have the Aai Sakolor Naam (prayers by a group of women). It will start at 2 pm and by 6 pm our Janmasthami celebrations will end. The normal evening prayers would continue but that will be done just by the Bhakat (priest). We are not allowing a gathering of over 30 people," Manmohan Mahanta, Bhakat, Srimanta Sankardev Kristi Bikash Samiti, Paltan Bazar, told Sentinel Assam.

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