Pedhas :
Mix khoya( 500 gms) with sugar(300 gms) in a pan and heat on low flame, stirring continuously. Cook till mixture thickens and cool for 10 minutes, then add cardamom powder(1/2 tsp) & food colour( 2-3 drops) and mix well. Take a small handful of mixture and press into the cookie mould and turn out carefully.
Kheer :
Pour milk in a pan and add rice to it and then boil rice and milk in the pan on medium flame
until completely cooked (appx. 25-30 minutes). Add condensed milk, sugar and stir till sugar gets completely dissolved and the mixture thickens. Add nuts and raisin and sprinkle it with powdered cardamom for extra flavor.
Narkel Naru : ( Preparation of grated coconut : Bengali dish )
Add milk to Kadai and then add elaichi and sugar and let it boil. As the mixture concentrates add grated coconut to this mixture and let it boil while stirring continously until and unless the mixture tightens. Then make rounded balls with your hand and store them in jars.
Showing posts with label Krishna Janmashtami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Krishna Janmashtami. Show all posts
Krishna Janmashtami Pooja Items List
- Lord Krishna's idol with cradle and conch
- New clothes, flute and ornaments for Lord Krishna
- Pooja thali containing a bell, diya, rice, elaichi(cardamom), supari, paan leaves, roli, small container filled with water, sindoor, incense sticks, flowers and ghee.
- For Panchamrit -milk, curd, gangajal, honey and ghee.
- A book containing Shri Krishna's arti.
The list of items may vary according to pooja process performed by different people.
Important and common customs observed in different states include performance of rasleela's by professional artistes and Dahi-Handi. In Bengal the grandparents narrate to the children the interesting stories of Krishna, in Gujarat women play cards, in Varanasi “ Nag-Nathiya Leela is staged. Janmashtami is also celebtated in Maharashtra and South India as well as in different parts of the world by Indians.
Rituals and Customs of Janmashtami
Janmashtami festival witnesses many interesting customs and rituals in various states and cities of India. While some rituals are common to all, others are unique and restricted to a particular region or city.
Fasting: The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival. Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast- It involves fasting without having a single drop of water. There are other ardent followers , who keep the fast for two days in the honour of Lord Krishna. Devotees fasting on janmashtami break the fast with Prasad of the Lord. Sendha namak (salt of a special kind used during fasting) is now allowed during the fast.
Chanting: Devotees indulge in continuous chanting of mantras and shlokas all day long. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples. Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna.
Arti: Arti is a ceremony, held to welcome Lord or a saintly person. Auspicious articles like incense and diyas are offered to the lord. Janmashtami arti is performed every year to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Krishna arti is performed in every house as well as temple during the festival.
Devotional Songs and dances : The festivity of Janmashtami will be incomplete without singing bhajans or hymns in praise of lord Krishna. There are various bhajans describing the feats and accomplishments of Lord. Bhajans are an important custom of the midnight celebration during the festival. Dances are also performed by devotees depicting the various events of Lord Krishna.
Staging of Plays or Dramas of Lord Krishna : Plays depicting various events and accomplishments of Lord Krishna during his lifetime is another important custom during the festival. Both professional artists as well as amateurs stage plays at various places that are widely attended by devotees.
Preparation of Sweets : According to legend, Lord Krishna was very fond of milk and milk products like butter and buttermilk. He was also fond of Sweets like Kheer, Pedhas etc. Therefore devotees all over make sweets during the festival to please the Lord.
Decoration of House : A number of popular traditional decorative items are used by devotees to beautify their homes during Janmashtami . People decorate their homes with flowers, Krishna idol and sculptures, wall hangings, door hangings or torans.
Fasting: The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival. Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast- It involves fasting without having a single drop of water. There are other ardent followers , who keep the fast for two days in the honour of Lord Krishna. Devotees fasting on janmashtami break the fast with Prasad of the Lord. Sendha namak (salt of a special kind used during fasting) is now allowed during the fast.
Chanting: Devotees indulge in continuous chanting of mantras and shlokas all day long. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples. Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna.
Arti: Arti is a ceremony, held to welcome Lord or a saintly person. Auspicious articles like incense and diyas are offered to the lord. Janmashtami arti is performed every year to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Krishna arti is performed in every house as well as temple during the festival.
Devotional Songs and dances : The festivity of Janmashtami will be incomplete without singing bhajans or hymns in praise of lord Krishna. There are various bhajans describing the feats and accomplishments of Lord. Bhajans are an important custom of the midnight celebration during the festival. Dances are also performed by devotees depicting the various events of Lord Krishna.
Staging of Plays or Dramas of Lord Krishna : Plays depicting various events and accomplishments of Lord Krishna during his lifetime is another important custom during the festival. Both professional artists as well as amateurs stage plays at various places that are widely attended by devotees.
Preparation of Sweets : According to legend, Lord Krishna was very fond of milk and milk products like butter and buttermilk. He was also fond of Sweets like Kheer, Pedhas etc. Therefore devotees all over make sweets during the festival to please the Lord.
Decoration of House : A number of popular traditional decorative items are used by devotees to beautify their homes during Janmashtami . People decorate their homes with flowers, Krishna idol and sculptures, wall hangings, door hangings or torans.
Janmashtami Rituals -Krishna Janmashtami on 14 Aug 09
Janmashtami is one of the most popular festivals that Hindus celebrate for birth of their beloved God, Sri Krishna. The festival of Janmashtami is considered a very pious day by Hindus. Lot of bhajan singing, hymn chanting and poojas are performed this day. Devotees queue all the major Krishna temples to seek his blessings. People perform elaborate poojas during the festival.
The general pooja process begins early in the morning with devotees giving a bath or abhishek to Bal Gopal's idol with gangajal, ghee, water, honey and curd. The idol is then adorned with new clothes (preferably in yellow colour), stone or other precious jewellery.
Next, the idol of lord is offered bhog, the contents of which may vary. Fruits, kheer, pedha, milk, and milk products are made. There are devotees who offer chappan bhog(56 dishes) to Bal Gopal.
Thereafter, special Krishna pooja is performed. The cradle containing the divine infant's idol is rocked, conch is blown. Devotees sing bhajans, some people read out 108 names of lord and perform arti.
After the entire pooja is over, devotees break their fast by having panchamrit. The time of breaking the fast may vary, this is so, because the time of performing pooja also differs from place to place. While some devotees choose to perform pooja at midnight and break fast, others perform pooja in the evening and have food.
The general pooja process begins early in the morning with devotees giving a bath or abhishek to Bal Gopal's idol with gangajal, ghee, water, honey and curd. The idol is then adorned with new clothes (preferably in yellow colour), stone or other precious jewellery.
Next, the idol of lord is offered bhog, the contents of which may vary. Fruits, kheer, pedha, milk, and milk products are made. There are devotees who offer chappan bhog(56 dishes) to Bal Gopal.
Thereafter, special Krishna pooja is performed. The cradle containing the divine infant's idol is rocked, conch is blown. Devotees sing bhajans, some people read out 108 names of lord and perform arti.
After the entire pooja is over, devotees break their fast by having panchamrit. The time of breaking the fast may vary, this is so, because the time of performing pooja also differs from place to place. While some devotees choose to perform pooja at midnight and break fast, others perform pooja in the evening and have food.
Krishna Janmashtami -Friday - 14-08-2009
Krishna Janmashtami (Devanagari कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी) , also known as "Krishnashtami","Saatam Aatham" ,"Gokulashtami", "Ashtami Rohini", "Srikrishna Jayanti", "Sree Jayanthi" or sometimes merely as "Janmashtami", is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, an avatar of god Vishnu
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