For one day, Delhi seemed to speak in Krishna’s many languages – through temple bells and bhajans, the colours of peacock feathers and little crowns, the measured grace of kathak and the roar of crowds cheering a human pyramid racing towards a matki.
The Capital celebrated Janmashtami on Friday with a mix of devotion, tradition and spectacle, as temples drew devotees through the day, while cultural and sporting events gave the festival a distinctly contemporary spin.
At temples across the city, flowers, lights and elaborate tableaux transformed familiar spaces into miniature Vrindavans. At several places, cave-like installations depicting episodes from Krishna’s childhood became a draw for families, with children pausing to watch scenes from his playful years.
At Kalkaji Temple, peacock feathers formed part of the decorations, while the Krishna Temple was lit up for the occasion. Devotees offered prayers and swung Laddu Gopal, the infant form of Krishna, as anticipation built towards the midnight celebrations traditionally associated with his birth.
For the youngest devotees, the festival was as much about dressing up as it was about darshan. Toddlers arrived dressed as tiny Kanhas in embellished outfits and crowns, while teenagers took on the roles of Krishna and Radha, adding a splash of colour to the crowds.
At ISKCON Dwarka, the scale of the celebration was reflected in a 1,108-kg cake, offered as special prasad to devotees.
Heavy rain, however, interrupted celebrations at several locations, forcing organisers and devotees to negotiate the city’s familiar monsoon unpredictability.
Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees traditionally fast through the day, visit temples, sing bhajans and gather for prayers before the midnight birth celebrations.
But Delhi’s Krishna story on Friday did not remain confined to temples.
…….Krishna, through the language of kathak……
At the India International Centre, veteran kathak exponent Dr Uma Sharma marked Janmashtami with the 22nd edition of her annual presentation, Ram-Shyam. The performance brought together excerpts from her Ramayan and Maharaas Leela ballets, exploring the contrasting worlds of Ram’s maryada and Krishna’s leela.
Her disciples presented Krishna episodes, including Govardhan Leela, Makhan Chori Leela and Kaliya Mardan Leela, using gestures, rhythm and abhinaya to bring the stories alive. The evening also featured Sharma’s Thumri-abhinaya and a screening of her short film Shri-Radha.
……..When matki became a sporting challenge……
At Yamuna Sports Complex in Surajmal Vihar, the mood was considerably louder.
The second season of the Matki Phod League turned one of Janmashtami’s most recognisable traditions into an organised sporting competition, complete with teams, matches and the pressure of the clock.
The first matki of the season was broken in 43 seconds.
The league featured 24 teams – 16 of boys and eight of girls –competing across 68 matches. The basic challenge remained unchanged: build a human pyramid, keep it together and reach the suspended matki. But the format added a competitive edge, testing balance, coordination, strategy and speed.
Founder and senior BJP leader Jai Bhagwan Goyal said the league was an extension of efforts over the past 23 years to preserve and promote the traditions surrounding Krishna Janmashtami while giving matki phod a wider sporting identity.
The event also swapped the usual quiet devotional setting for a more energetic musical format, with what organisers described as “Bhajan Clubbing”. Singers Ashok Masti, Shankar Sahney, Shibani Kashyap and Dilbagh Singh performed for the crowd, while Braj Ratna Vandana Shri brought a devotional note through a performance celebrating Krishna bhakti and Braj culture.
……Nitin Nabin, Vijender Gupta offer prayers…..
BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Friday offered prayers at temples on Janmashtami, invoking Lord Krishna’s blessings for peace, prosperity and harmony.
Nabin, who arrived in Bihar for a two-day visit to participate in the celebrations, offered prayers at Gauriya Math in Patna and later visited Mangal Talab, where he welcomed and felicitated tableaux. Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi and other party leaders were present.
Extending greetings to people on the occasion, Nabin said Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna and reminds people of the triumph of righteousness over unrighteousness. He also said the Bihar Government was making preparations to deal with the flood situation, with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary personally monitoring the situation.
In Delhi, Gupta visited the ISKCON Temple in East of Kailash and offered prayers. He said Janmashtami was not merely a festival of devotion but also a celebration of Krishna’s eternal message of duty, truth and righteousness.
Gupta urged people to draw inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita and work towards building a peaceful, harmonious and just society.
