Indore (Madhya Pradesh): City’s historic Krishna temples are set to celebrate Janmashtami with grandeur, blending age-old traditions with vibrant decor.
While Banke Bihari and Gopal temples will mark the festival on Friday, most others including the famed Yashoda, Janakinath and Govardhannath shrines will celebrate on Saturday.
The 193-year-old Gopal temple will feature early morning floral adornment using jasmine, mogra, roses and lotuses, followed by a royal-style aarti and bhajan evening. At midnight, the maha-aarti will be performed and devotees will receive panchiri and laddoo prasad.
Banke Bihari temple, dating back 250 years, will see elaborate decorations with special attire brought from Kolkata for the deity. Fifty-one kilos of makhan-mishri will be distributed alongside panchiri after midnight rituals.
Yashoda temple’s three-day festivities will include the adorning of ten deities in new garments and jewellery, a symbolic godh bharai ceremony for childless women and musical performances.
Other temples including the 253-year-old Radhakrishna temple in Ada Bazaar, the 198-year-old Govardhannath temple in Malharganj and the Janakinath shrine will host abhishek, bhajan evenings and the traditional nandotsav where devotees cradle the infant Krishna idol.
From intricate flower arrangements to royal bhog and soulful bhajans, the city’s centuries-old shrines promise a spiritually charged celebration, drawing devotees in large numbers to witness the birth of Lord Krishna at the stroke of midnight.
