What is Janmashtami?
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura on the eighth day of the dark half of Bhadrapada, and was carried across the Yamuna to Gokul to be raised by Nand and Yashoda.
Midnight celebrations
Devotees fast through the day and gather at temples late into the night. At midnight, the moment of Krishna's birth, bells ring, conch shells are blown and the baby Krishna is bathed and placed in a decorated cradle. Mathura, Vrindavan and ISKCON temples see huge crowds.
Dahi Handi
In Maharashtra and Goa, the day after Janmashtami is famous for Dahi Handi. Teams of young "Govindas" form human pyramids to break a pot of curd hung high above the street, recreating little Krishna's love for stealing butter.