Janmashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is revered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu tradition, Krishna was born at midnight in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva while the region was ruled by the tyrannical King Kamsa. His birth is traditionally believed to have occurred during a time when evil and injustice had spread, and Krishna's arrival represented the restoration of dharma and righteousness. Devotees observe fasting throughout the day and gather at temples for prayers, devotional songs, readings from the Bhagavad Gita and stories of Krishna's life. At midnight, the traditional time of Krishna's birth, devotees celebrate with special prayers, aarti, conch blowing and the ceremonial rocking of a small Krishna idol in a cradle. In Mathura and Vrindavan, celebrations are particularly grand, featuring temple decorations, Ras Leela performances, processions and devotional music. In Maharashtra, the festival is famously associated with Dahi Handi, where teams form human pyramids to break a pot filled with curd or other treats, recalling Krishna's childhood love of butter and curd. Janmashtami is therefore both a deeply devotional festival and a colorful celebration of Krishna's childhood stories, teachings and divine personality.