Krishna Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is widely believed to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and therefore, it is observed on the eighth day of the dark fortnight or on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravan, according to the Hindu calendar. This year, this auspicious occasion falls on August 11, 2020.

According to some scholars, Shri Krishna was born in July, 3228 B.C.E to the clan of Yadava. He has 108 names namely Gopal, Govind, Kishan Kanhaiya, Shyam, Mohan, Shyam, Ghanshyam, Girdhari and Nandlala. Shri Krishna was a cousin of the Pandavas through their father’s side. The Pandavas’ mother, Kunti was the sister of his father, Vasudev.

Janmashtami is celebrated every year by worshiping the idol or picture of Shri Krishna on a clean altar decorated with garlands, turmeric, sandal paste and kumkum (red vermilion powder). Devotees light a lamp and offer the Lord flowers, fruits and sweets as well as offer aarti to the Lord.

Many devotees observe a ritualistic fast – while some opt for ‘nirjala’ fast, others resort to the ‘phallar’ fast where they only consume fruits, milk and light sattvik foods. A rich variety of yummy prasads are also made for little Krishna, like malpua, panjiri, kheer, peda to name a few.

Here are two delicious recipes you could sample after observing a whole day of fast on this occasion:

Sabudana Khichdi

by Tarla Dalal

This dish is made from soaked sabudana (tapioca balls) and is popular in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Ingredients

1 cup Sabudana (washed and drained)
2 tsp Oil
1 tsp Cumin seeds
3 cups Boiled potato (peeled and cut into cubes)
2 tsp Chopped green chili
4-5 Curry leaves
2 tsp Lemon juice
2 tsp Sugar
Salt as required

Method

• Add sabudana in 3/4 cup water and allow it soak for 2 hours.
• After soaking, take a non-stick pan and add oil in it. Then add cumin seeds.
• Add boiled potatoes, soaked and drained sabudana, salt, curry leaves and green chilli. Mix well.
• Then add the lemon and sugar. Mix well for two minutes. Serve hot.

Kheer

Usually prepared on Janmashtami and offered to Lord Krishna as prasad after the puja is done, kheer is a sweet dish made from rice and condensed milk.

Ingredients

1 cup Basmati rice
1 cup condensed milk
1 tsp Custard powder (dissolved in warm milk)
3-4 cups Milk
1/2 cup Sugar
1 tsp Raisins
1 tsp Cashewnuts
1 tsp Powdered cardamom

Method

• Pour milk in a pan and add boiled rice in it. Cook for few minutes.
• Add custard powder to milk and stir continuously. Then add condensed milk, sugar and stir till sugar gets completely dissolved. Stir till the mixture thickens.
• Add cashewnuts and raisins.
• Serve it hot.

Also read: Lesser known facts about Janmashtami