Devotees, chanting 'Hare Krishna Hare Rama', thronged decked-up temples as Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across the country today.
Amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples where special religious discourses, 'Krishnalila' or dance dramas and community kitchens were held.
Tight security arrangements were made for the festival and additional security personnel were deployed in sensitive places.
Lakhs of pilgrims paid obeisance in the main temples of Mathura, the birth place of Krishna, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Mahaban and Baldeo, and performed circumambulation of hillock Goverdhan. The temples of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) which celebrate the festival with great fervour and pomp, too attracted large congregations.
Bathing ceremony of the deity - 'Abhishek' - was performed with milk, curd, honey, ghee and khandsari amidst chanting of vedic hymns.
In Delhi, people thronged the brightly adorned temples and offered prayers to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees gathered at Birla Mandir, ISKCON and other Krishna temples in the city where tableaux were set up, while priests and devotees chanted hymns from 'Srimad Bhagvad Gita' describing incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Thousands of Mumbaikers poured into the streets for 'dahi handi' festivities with youngsters moving around the city in processions and breaking pots filled with butter or curd, which are hung at a considerable height, to win prize money.
It is inspired by the mythological tale of Krishna's boy- hood trick of stealing butter from a suspended earthen pot.
Devotees also observed day-long fast and the celebrations peak at midnight when Krishna was said to have been born.
In Tamil Nadu, houses were decorated with Lord Krishna's portraits and the deity were offered delicacies such as 'seedai', made of milk, ghee and butter. A trail of a toddler's footprints were made with flour from the main entrance into the pooja room of house, indicating the arrival of the Lord.
