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Dwarkadheesh temple decks up to celebrate Janamashtami

     Dwarka (Gujarat): The Dwarkadheesh Temple in Gujarat has begun preparations to celebrate Janamashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. The temple has been decorated with flowers, cut outs and lights for the midnight prayers that are to be held on Friday (August 14). The Dwarka Devasthanam Committee has made all arrangements for the Janamashtami festival. Over 550 security personnel have been deployed for duty. An information centre has been opened near the main temple. Similar centres have been opened in other places in Dwarka town. "We are making massive preparations here so that visitors can have good glimpse of the deity. We are making arrangements for their accommodation and refreshments so that they don't face any shortcomings. We are expecting more visitors here than in previous years. We are making arrangements for the decoration of the temple," said Paresh Padiya, a member of the Dwarka Devasthan Committee. Artisans, traders and other city residents are giving finishing touches two days ahead of the celebrations. Trilochan Das, a priest at the Dwarkadheesh Temple said the town is all set to celebrate the festival with traditional zeal and fervour. "With full faith and devotion everyone prays to Lord Dwarkanath (Lord Krishna) whom we consider our king, our owner. People celebrate his birthday (Lord Krishan's) with zeal and fervour. Organizations affiliated with the temple, all families (of temple authorities) begins preparation one and half month before the festival," said Das. The Dwarkadhish Temple , built in the 16th century, stands on 72 pillars. The temple is 78.3 m (235 feet) high. From the temple dome, an 84-foot long multi-coloured flag decorated with the symbols of the sun and moon gently flutters in the breeze. Lord Krishna has been the focus of a large number of devotional cults, which over the centuries have produced a wealth of stories, religious poetry, music, painting and sculpture. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver and one of the trinities of the Hindu pantheon; the other two being Brahma, the creator and Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Krishna is believed to have taken human form to destroy an evil king called Kansa, who ruled some parts of northern India with Mathura serving as his capital. The celebrations reach a fitting climax at midnight when the Lord is believed to have taken birth. Krishna 's imprisoned parents had to smuggle the child out to save him from Kansa, his evil uncle. Vasudev, Krishna's father, carried his newborn child in a reed basket and left him in the care of another couple at `Gokul'-- far away from his birthplace Mathura . Thus Janamashtami is celebrated on two consecutive days, the first is the day when Krishna was actually born, and the second, when he reached Gokul.
-Aug 12, 2009