The year begins and ends, and in the middle gives us immense opportunities to enjoy the beauties of life through the disparate striking colours of Indian festivals. Every month is a time of celebration, lot of shopping and a get together with the family members. This September is also a gala time for all of us as the month sees the Hindu festival of Janmashtami, which is feted with full fervour all over India.

On the festival of Janamashtami people celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. The euphoria of the festival is not only confined to the city of Mathura, Lord Krishna's birth place but all over the world.

On the day of Janmashtami, several rituals are performed by the people. People in their homes conduct pooja and offer prayers. Temples all over India, engage in various ceremonies and prayers in the honour of Lord Krishna. Many devotional songs on Krishna are sung and dances performed on this occasion. Many performances by professional artists are also organised on this occasion. Rasleelas however are the most common performance that is held in various states.

Janmashtami is celebrated with great divinity in Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwarka. Dahi Handi is one of the most important ways of the celebration of Janmashtami. Dahi Handi is an enactment of Lord Krishna's efforts to steal butter from Matka (earthen pot) suspended from the ceiling.

Dahi Handi generally takes place on the second day of Janmashtami. An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits, ghee is hung around 20-30 feet high in the air with the help of a rope. Enthusiastic young men, form a human pyramid by standing one on top of the other, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men in order to prevent them from breaking the pot. Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. It is a common belief that the breaking of the pots keep the negative powers of the world away. The common anthem of young men on this day is 'Ala re ala, Govinda ala".

In Maharashtra, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and south India the festival of Janmashtami is held with great joy and fun.