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Janmashtami, the birth of lord Krishna is celebrated with
great devotion in the months of August & September months, on the
Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month
of Bhadon, in the whole of north India. 
Temples and homes are beautifully decorated and lit. An attractive
feature of the celebrations are cribs & other decorations depicting
stories of lord Krishna's childhood. There are five main tableaux "jhankis",
the tableaux of Janmastami, which depict the entire sequence of events
from lord Krishna's birth to this being discovered in Gokul.
The "jhankis" include the birth of Krishna in jail, Vasudev
carrying Krishna to safety across the river
Yamuna amidst thunder and lightening,
Vasudev's return to the jail, Kansa killing Yashoda's daughter and finally
the little Krishna in the cradle in Gokul. "Jhankis" are created
out of dolls dressed up as kids, men and women with lehanges, chunnis,
dhotis & kurtas.
Raslila of different types is also performed - Janmalila, Shankarlila,
Putnalila and Naglila. In the evening, bhajans are sung, which end at
midnight, the auspicious moment when lord Krishna was born. Thereafter,
arti is done, prasad distributed and flowers showered on the idol.
Janmashtmi At Braj Bhoomi
The people of
Mathura
celebrate Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. Mathura is the birthplace of
lord Krishna, where his parents lived in captivity of the evil Kansa and
he, as a young boy, came and vanquished his maternal uncle Kansa, to
ascend the throne and free his parents.
The main celebrations are performed at the Dwarkadhish temple, Mathura in
the form of 'Jhulanotsava' and the 'Ghatas' during the entire month of
Shravan. The 'ghatas' are unique feature of the month- long celebrations.
During the 'ghata' of a particular colour, the whole temple is covered
with decoration in the same colour. Even the lord dresses up in the same
colour. The twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan wear a festive look and
spirit of devotion runs high among the people.
It was on the banks of the river Yamuna
where lord Krishna played during his childhood and indulged in pranks and
tricks with his friends and the gopis. There are about 400 temples
dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city and the major festivities
are held at the Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram temple and
Gopinath temple. The Raslila of Braj is thematically the basis of many
performing arts.
Rath Ka Mela
The Rangaji temple,
Vrindavan,
is also the venue for the annual Rath Mela, celebrated in March-April. The
chariot of lord Rangaji is taken out from the temple with great
enthusiasm, by thousands of devotees.
Nag Nathiya Leela
The Tulsi Ghat at Varanasi is the venue for
the 20 day long Krishna Leela celebration, of which Nag-Nathaiya Leela,
which is one of the episodes, is extremely famous. Lord Krishna enacted by
an artist, jumps into the river as the play reaches climax and emerges on
the hood of the serpent of Shesh Nag, Lakhs of people gather on the ghats
of Ganga to witness this special enactment.