Janamshtami - The Rajghat Way

Happy birthday to "The Son India", Kanha. Janmashtami, which denotes birth of lord krishna is celebrated with lots of flowers, sweets, makhan, excitement and love, in varied style throughout India.

Celebrating this grand birthday of our kanha, the Rajghat Way, is still the best one in my memories. I think all who belongs to Rajghat Besant School would easily relate to me.

A typical Janamastami day in Rajghat!

For all those who don't know, there used to be a competition between all hostels to decorate their own kanha in their own way. Out of the excitement running in the festive air, all of us would get up at 4.00 AM and that too without any bell. The night before would be the planning night to decide who will go where to STEAL FLOWERS. Some to 1st hostel, some to the gardens, some to 3rd hostel and some would stay at their own hostels to protect their flowers. Latest by 6.00 AM, we all were done with stealing flowers, being chased by other hostlers, laughing hard, falling badly and again getting up and running again to save the stolen flowers.

Next on the agenda would be cleaning our hostels. All of us at the same time wanted to do the cleaning, one broom and 25 little kids. Well, the hostel of course looked little more messier with kids fighting with broom and water. Ultimately, our hostel warden, our "didi" would come to give us a good yelling and put us on line.

After coming out in fresh nice "any dress" and filling our tummy with hot tasty breakfast, we used to be back in the race of fierce competition. Some of us would help in making garlands, some would cut fruits for the prasad, some would help in putting lights, and some lucky ones would help didi to decorate the hostel and our Kanha. And still some and all would keep a watch that other hostlers don't get in and copy our style.

In evening, lights would be switched on, cameras will roll and action. All doors were opened, every one dressed in nice attire, some at the gate with plate to put tikka to all, some would distribute prasad, some would be near kanha and tell everyone - "hey, don't go further than this, don't touch anything." And in small and big groups of friends we would visit all hostels and to self, our hostel was always the winner and no one ever decorated better than ours.

The decoration mostly had hills, water flowing from the hills joining the small river, lots of grass with cattle around and a "paalna with our kanha", decorated in different styles. Some hostels had lord Krishna with his moving Sudarshan chakra. All of us would show around everyone else with lot of pride. Colorful lights, glowing kanha, beautiful decoration, sweet fragrance of flowers and aroma of delicious mouth watering  prasad filled entire Rajghat.

Janamashtami in Rajghat, somehow made everyone present there, happy at a time. There was smiles, fun, love, romance, music, lights, excitement. Till date the fragrance lingers in my heart, a smile on face and sweet memories to share with all. Thanks Rajghat and a very Happy birthday to you, kanha.