Krishna Janmashtami 2012 date

Krishna Janmashtami 2012 date is August 10 in North India and August 9 in other parts of India. However in South India in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerela it will be observed on September 8, 2012. Sri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Lord Krishna, who has devotees all over the world. According to the traditional calendar followed in North India it will be celebrated on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month. Obviously you must be wondering why different dates for different regions? Well, this difference is due to the two different types of calendar followed in these two regions .While the North Indian calendar is based on lunar calculations the south Indian calendar is based on solar calculation. Hence the difference in Krishna Janmashtami 2012 dates.

Over years Krishna Janmashtami has been celebrated by different regions on different dates, due to different methods of calculations used in different regional calendars. Many regions in India have their own specific way of calculating the birthdate of the ‘Bal Gopal�.To make things easier here’s a listing of dates for Krishna Janmashtami 2012. Choose from the list, depending on your traditional belief:

• North India - Sri Krishna Janmashtami is on August 10. (Fasting in North India is on August 9).
• Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka - August 9
• Tamil Nadu and Kerala - September 8, 2012u
• The Smarta Tradition observes the festival on August 10 and the Vaishnava Tradition on August 9.

Here are few details about Krishna Janmashtami fasting that need be followed. No grains should be consumed during Krishna Janmashtami fasting 2012, until next day Sunrise. The ritual of breaking fast at an appropriate time is known as Parana. For Krishna Janmashtami fasting, Parana is done on next day after Sunrise when Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra are over.If Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra don't get over before Sunset then fast can be broken during day time when either Ashtami Tithi or Rohini Nakshatra is over. When neither Ashtami Tithi nor Rohini Nakshatra is over before Sunset or even Hindu Midnight (also known as Nishita Time) one should wait to get them over before breaking the fast.

Quite a possibility that the time span of Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra end might extend the fast for two complete days. Those who cannot keep the fast that long can break it next day after sunrise as suggested in ‘the holy text Dharmasindhu.

Ardent followers of Lord Krishna will celebrate Krishna Janmashtami 2012 by keeping 'Nirjala' fasts. This means the devotees will not be having even a single drop of water during the fast. Many devotees of Krishna feel keeping nirjal or waterless fasts will get them much closer to God and their belief. Yet another set of devotees will keep 'Phalahar Vrat' having only milk and fruits during Krishna Janmashtami 2012.Exercising self control is what you learn by observing this fast , so you will see devotees of Krishna refrain from having cereals and salt on the day of the festival . Fasting is one way of getting closer to one's belief , this is also accompanied by singing of devotional songs and mantra chanting.

It is only at midnight between the first and the second day that birth of Sri Krishna took place. The actual festivities begin during midnight in this 48 hour period. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, Here’s a step by step explanation of what you should do this Krishna Janmashtami 2012:

Devotees start by giving bath or abhishek to Balgopal idol with gangajal, ghee, water, honey and curd (that becomes panchamrit). The idol is then elaborately adorned with new clothes preferably in yellow colour), stone or other precious jewellery.

After that the idol of Sri Krishna is offered bhog that can be: fruits, kheer, pedha, milk, and milk products Depending on one's capacity it can be as elaborate as chappan bhog(56 dishes) to Bal Gopal.

·Krishna pooja is performed with a lot of fun and gaiety. The cradle containing the divine infant's idol is rocked with “kanhaiya Lal “in it and the conch is blown. Devotees sing Krishna arti, some read out 108 names of Krishna.

The whole day through devotees fast and break the fast after next day sunrise.
Krishna Janmashtami is more like a festival for many amongst us today, with so many forms of celebration all across India, the dahi handi ceremony in Maharashtra, the famous 'Nag-Nathaiya Leela' in Varanasi, Rasselas, a kind of dance drama are performed at various places in Mathura city both by professionals as well as amateurs and Jhankis, cribs or scenes depicting the various stages of Life of Lord Krishna in many parts of India. The universal significance remains one though : Spread the message of love and dedicate your life to live by the virtues established by Shri Krishna.Wish each of you a very Happy Krishna Janmashtami 2012!!