While Janmashtami is celebrated with gaiety and joy at homes, some temples in Lucknow put up elaborate jhankis (tablueax) and have grand ceremonies to celebrate the birth of Shri Krishna at midnight. Here’s an easy guide to Janmashtami and Nandotsav celebrations in the city:
RAM KRISHNA MATH & MISSION, NIRALA NAGAR
The Ram Krishna Matth in Nirala Nagar puts up a Special worship Discourse on the nativity of Sri Krishna after the evening aarti. This year the celebrations will begin on September 2. Children enact the different stages of Krishna’s life as part of the celebrations.
Location: Nirala Nagar, Lucknow
ISKCON TEMPLE, SHAHEED PATH
The Janmashtami celebrations here are grand. On September 3, there will be a Maha Abhishek of Radha Krishna from 12 noon to 12 midnight. A cultural programme will take place from 6.30 pm to 12.30 am in which school children will put up song and dance performances.
Location: Sector F, Sushant Golf City, Sultanpur Road, Shaheed Path, Lucknow
POLICE LINES MANDIR
Hordes of people come to see the huge jhanki that is set up here on the occasion of Janmashtami. The temple is done up with flower decorations and elaborate rangolis. The jhanki opens for public a day before Janmashtami (Sept 2 this year), and is up for three days, till Sept 4. On the day of Janmashtami
Location: Reserve Police Lines, Near Lucknow University, Lucknow
DWARKADHISH TEMPLE, CHOWK
This temple is said to be more than a 100-years old. The Janmashtami celebrations begin here with a panchamrit snan of Thakur ji at 10 am on Sept 3, followed by his Shringar, and darshan in the night. At 12 midnight, the birth of Krishna is celebrated, followed by Nandotsav on September 4. There’s a Raj Bhog at 12 noon on the day of the Nandotsav.
Location: Near Khun Khun ji Building, Chowk, Lucknow
SHRI NATH JI KI HAVELI, SUBHASH MARG
The Janmashtami celebrations at this temple last for two days. There’s a panchamrit snan of Thakurji at 5.30 am on Sept 3. From 6 pm onwards, there’s a darshan of Shri Nath ji in the palna. Raj Bhog takes place at 7 pm, and the birth of Shri Nath is celebrated at 11.30 pm. This is followed by Nandotsav the next day, from 11 am onwards with Badhaiyan – celebratory songs being sung by devotees with a lot of ras, anand and ulhas!
Location: 223, Subhash Marg, Yahiyaganj, Lucknow
BIHARI JI KA MANDIR, RAJA BAZAR
Janmashtami celebration at this temple too are spread over two days, starting with a panchamrit snan of Thakurji at 6 am on Sept 3. The birth of Krishna is celebrated at 11.30 pm, followed by Nand Mahotsav on Sept 4 as per tradition. The flower decorations begin a day prior to Janmashtami. Prasad will be distributed on the day of Janmashtami, and makhane and dahi are thrown up in air at the time of the birth of Thakurji.
Location: Raja Bazar, Chowk, Lucknow
