By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Janmasthami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna was celebrated with religious fervour across the town on Monday as large number of devotees thronged various temples and offered obesiance to Lord Krishna.
The festival was celebrated at Ramakrishna Missionwhere the puja started at 8:00 am on Monday morning with Geeta chanting that continued till 12:00 midday.
The Geeta chanting was offered by around 70 devotees particularly registered for the purpose.
A Satsang was organized after the evening prayer followed by the main Janmashtami puja besides Shyam Naam Kirtan organized on the occasion.
In Basudev Mandir at Jail Road puja started at 8:30 pm on Sunday night and continued till 1:15 am on Monday morning.
A Yagya was performed at 12:00 midnight, which is reckoned as the birth time of Lord Krishna.
Krishna special prasadas, such as, Kheer Nadu, Sandesh, Mug Sidho, Sobji Sidho, Siju Luchi etc. were offered to the gathered devotees on the occasion.
The biggest among all these venues was the Rilbong Puja Mandap where the festival was organized by Prabashi Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj, Orissa.
Many devotees thronged the venue since Sunday when Janmasthami puja started at midnight preceded by devotional songs.
A large pandal was erected by the Samaj outside the Puja Mandap for cultural programs on the occasion.
The puja here was accompanied by special drumbeaters.
Elsewhere in the town, Janmashtami was also observed in Hindu Mission, Lower Mawprem; Sanatan Dharmasabha, Harisabha, Laban; Ganesh Mandir, Police Bazaar among others.
Though not observed here in the city, it may be mentioned that Dahi Handi is also a special feature of Janmashtami which is celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm.
The Handi is a clay pot filled with buttermilk that is positioned at a convenient height during the event.
A human pyramid is thus formed and the topmost person on this pyramid tries to break the Handi by hitting it with a coconut – used as a sign of purity and truth.
The buttermilk is then spilled over the entire group, symbolizing achievement through unity.