Hindus on Tuesday (Aug 11) celebrated the Janmashtami marking the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna, a central figure of Hinduism, with due religious fervour and zeal, local media reported.
In the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak, this year all rituals and programmes were arranged inside temples maintaining health guidelines scrapping traditional colorful processions as a decision was taken to keep stopped processions and rallies marking the festival.
On the occasion, usually colourful Janmashtami processions displaying blissful events of the life of Krishna are brought out in the capital. But Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad central executive body at a virtual meeting with its district and city units recently took the decision to keep stopped processions and rallies marking the festival this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, other programmes of the day, including puja, prayer and Gita Yogya, discussion, cultural function and distribution of ‘prasad’ were celebrated with due religious fervour and gaiety.
President Md. Abul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages on the occasion of the Janmashtami greeted Hindus and wished their happiness and well-being.
On the occasion, Geeta Yagya was arranged at Dhakeswari National Temple premises in the morning while Sitakunda Math and Mission,
Chattogram, Principal Swami Tapanananda Giri Maharaj conducted the Yagya. Later, the Krishna Puja was observed in the night.
Ramkrishna Math and Ramkrishna Mission, Dhaka held recitation of Geeta from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Swami Debdhyanananda and Brahmacharya Bhashwar recited from the Geeta. Other rituals include Bhajan (religious music) and distribution of Prasad in the afternoon and delivering of sermons by Guru Maharaj at 7:40 p.m. and Sri Krishna Puja at 8 p.m. Monks of Sankar Math O Mission, Sitakunda held ‘Geeta Yagya’ and worship of lord Krishna at 8 a.m. seeking blessings for the country, the nation and the world maintaining health guidelines.
Besides, different religious, cultural and social organisations also arranged identical programmes across the country in observance of the Janmashtami.
The day was a public holiday. National dailies published special articles on works and ideals of Lord Krishna. Radio and television channels aired special programmes highlighting significance of the day.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Milon Kanti Dutta and General Secretary Nirmol Chattarjee, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee President Shoilendra Nath Majumder and General Secretary Advocate Kishor Ranjan Mondal, in a statement, on Monday greeted all irrespective of castes, creeds and religions on the occasion of Janmashtami.
According to mythology, Sri Krishna was born on the eighth day of dark fortnight in the Bangla month of Bhadra and he takes birth in ages in the world to safeguard the good and pious people from the hands of malevolence people by establishing truth, justice and beauty in the society.
It is usually observed on the eighth day (ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Sharavan or Bhadrapad.
