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Nation celebrates Janmashtami with fervour

. Dated: 8/11/2012 2:09:03 AM

Mathura/Mumbai, AUG 10 (Agencies): Brijbhoomi is reverberating with chants of Jai Sri Krishna on Janmashtami with the city of Mathura being thronged by lakhs of devotees on Friday. In Mumbai, every locality is filled with eager crowds chanting ‘Govina Aala Re’ as they take part in ‘Dahi Handi’ festival.
In Mathura, the festivities are centred at the Janmbhoomi temple ‘Bhagvat Bhavan’ with devotees queuing up for darshan since early morning. Bal Gopal will be offered a lot of delicacies including his favourite laddoos.
Last year around 40 lakh people had taken part in the festivities at the temple, this year the number is expected to swell further.
In nearby Vrindavan, the temples are full devotees who have converged at the temple town from across the country and the world.
Leaves from the Ashok tree and flowers are used to decorate homes. A swing is also prepared from the newborn Nandlala.
A ‘Shalegram’ (round black pebble) is taken as the lord’s symbol and is bathed in Panchaamrit (mixture of honey, ghee, powdered sugar, milk, curd) and dressed in new attire. Toys and sweets are also offered to the lord.
Mumbai is completely under the magic charm of Govinda with crowds thronging various locations across the country to take part in Dahi Handi festival. Chanting ‘Govinda Aala Re’ – to mark the birth of Lord Krishna - hundreds of mandals are participating in the dahi handi events, where human pyramids are formed to reach pots containing dahi and cash prizes tied at tall heights. Prize money worth crores is up for grabs.
The city administration has mandated 40 feet as the upper ceiling for handi’s height. Today morning, the first handi was broken by Mahila Bal Gopal Dahi Handi Mandal, an all-women group. They broke the handi at an event in Dadar to create awareness against female foeticide.
Bollywood biggies will add a touch of glamour to Janmashtami celebrations in Mumbai, where prizes running into crores will be up for grabs. Stars like Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Esha Deol and playback singer Himesh Reshammiya, among others, are all likely to be present at a mega 'dahi handi' celebration organised by NCP leader and Minister Sachin Ahir and his wife Sangeeta at Jamboree maidan in central Mumbai.
President Pranab Mukherjee has extended his good wishes to citizens on the occasion of Janmashtami. "On the occasion of Janmashtami, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens. Let us on this auspicious day dedicate ourselves to the service of the nation. Let us concentrate on performing our duties without thinking about the rewards. Good results will definitely follow right actions. Let us imbibe Lord Krishna's message of love and compassion, of oneness and pluralism and work together to take our great country forward," he said in his message.
Besides, Mumbai and Mathura, rest of the country is celebrating the festival with traditional fervour.