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Devotees defy swine flu scare to celebrate Janmashtami
Mumbai
/ Mathura (Uttar Pradesh): Scores of devotees came out in
open to participate in the 'Dahi Handi' (curds in a pot) event
practised in Maharashtra to mark the festival of Janmashtami,
the birth of Hindu God Krishna on Friday. Exuberant people of
all ages came out of their houses, some with masks on, in the
wake of swine flu, to witness the mass event as flu scare took
a back seat. "Swine flu is not going to affect here. It's happening
in Nashik. Our pots have gone out of stock. We need more of them,"
said Sameer, a local resident. During the festivities, daring
and enthusiastic participants formed a human pyramid to reach
an earthen pot filled with yogurt and butter, which is hung at
a height of 20-25 feet, to break it with one man standing over
the other. This was in a way to relive and re-enact a part symbolic
of Krishna's childhood when he used to eat his favourite food-
butter. The winner got roaring rounds of applause and of course
butter from the pot and a cash prize. The spectators cheered the
competing men with the chants of 'Govind Ala Re' (Krishna is coming)
and at the same time threw water on them to prevent them from
reaching the pot in order to prolong the excitement of the festival.
But there was no one who could stop these overexcited youngsters,
determined to take the big prize of the pot filled with butter.
"Today we will get the handi (pot)," said Dilip, a participant.
The exuberance was even greater at Mathura, the birthplace of
Lord Krishna in Uttar Pradesh, where celebrations had commenced
almost a week earlier. Devotees came in droves to the Krishna
Janmabhoomi Mandir (temple of Krishna's birthplace) and waited
for their turn to have a glimpse of the idols of Krishna and his
wife Radha. At the Dwarkadhessh Mandir in Mathura, the priest
bathed the idol of Krishna with a mixture of milk, yogurt, butter,
water and honey known as Panchamrit (holy nectar made from five
items). A similar holy bath was given to the Krishna idol at Radharaman
Mandir in Vrindavan, which is the place, as described in scriptures,
where Krishna played rasleela (divine sport) with wife Radha and
other milkmaids, sang and dance and got all the milkmaids dancing
to the tune of his flute. A tableau depicting various stages of
Krishna's life was also taken through the city of Mathura amidst
the chants of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama and dancing of devotees.
-Aug 14, 2009
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