Holiday on August 12, 2020 for Janmashtami

Holiday on August 12, 2020 for Janmashtami 

Janmashtami is a public holiday falls on 12th August 2020. [Dopt order holiday 2020] This is one of the most important Hindu festivals, Janmashtami (Krishna Jayanti). This year, Janmashtami would be celebrated on 11th August, 2020; some people would be celebrating it on 12th August as well.

Background of Janmashtami 

Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti and Sree Jayanthi and a Gazetted holiday in many regions of India. In Tamil Nadu this holiday is known as Sri Krishna Jayanti

Across India, there will be ceremonies and prayers at temples dedicated to Krishna. The day before may consist of fasting and prayer up to midnight, the time at which it was said that Krishna was born.

Janmashtami Special

Devotees also perform ritualistic puja during midnight and it involves all sixteen steps which are part of Shodashopachara Puja Vidhi. After the hour of Krishna’s midnight birth passes, statues in his image are washed, clothed and placed in a cradle. Women would draw tiny footprints outside their house doors and kitchen, representing Krishna walking into their houses.

Why Janmashtami is celebrated for 2 days?

His birthday is celebrated eight days after Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. It falls in the Hindu month of Sravana, which normally corresponds to August or September. Celebrations are spread over two days and are vibrant and passionate.