Janmashtami 2024 : The birth anniversary of Lord Shri Krishna is being celebrated across the country today. On this special occasion, the temples of Shri Krishna have been decorated grandly and the manifestation of Laddu Gopal will be celebrated with great pomp on the midnight of 26th August. Religious belief is that Lord Krishna was born in Mathura at midnight in Rohini Nakshatra on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month. On this day, bhajan-kirtan is organized in Krishna temples across the country and the world including Mathura and Vrindavan. Bal Gopal is made to sit in a swing and 56 offerings are made to him and Ashta Prahar is worshipped. 56 offerings have great importance on Janmashtami. On the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, sattvik food is prepared to offer to Laddu Gopal. In Chhappan Bhog, food of 5 types of tastes including sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter is offered. Chhappan Bhog is very dear to Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Let us know what happens in 56 Bhog and its importance…
56 What happens in Bhog?
Krishna Bhog: Janmashtami But Kadhi, Puri, Kheer, semolina pudding or laddu, Puranpoli, Malpua, Kesar Bhaat, sweet fruits and Kalakand are offered to Lord Krishna.
black fruit : Banana, coconut, apple, guava, pomegranate, custard apple, papaya, dates, Neel Badri, Amla, mulberry, sugarcane and plum etc. are offered to Kanha.
Krishna Prasad: Apart from this, offerings of butter-mishri, panchamrit, coconut, dry fruits and coriander panjiri are made to Bal Gopal.
Krishna Sweets: On the occasion of Krishna Janmotsav, yellow peda, rasgulla, mohan bhog, makhana paag, ghevar, jalebi, rabri, boondi, gram flour laddu, mathura peda and sweets are offered to Kanha.
Why is 56 offerings offered to Laddu Gopal?
On the occasion of Krishna’s birth anniversary, 56 types of different dishes are offered to Laddu Gopal. This is called 56 Bhog. According to mythology, a festival was organized every year in Braj to please Lord Indra. Once Bal Gopal asked Nand Baba why a festival is organized to please Lord Indra? Nand Baba told Kanha that this festival and worship is done so that due to the pleasure of Indradev, there is abundant rain throughout the year. Kanha said that instead of worshiping Lord Indra, one should worship Mount Govardhan for rain. They provide fruits, vegetables and fodder to the animals. Hearing these words of Lord Shri Krishna, Lord Indra became angry and in his anger caused heavy rain in Braj, due to which there was flood there. To save the people of Braj from the wrath of Indra, Lord Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan Mountain without taking food or water for 7 days. After the rain ended on the eighth day, Kanha allowed the people of Braj to come out of Govardhan Mountain. Mother Yashoda’s son, who used to eat 8 meals 8 times in 8 days, remained hungry for 7 days. It was very painful for Yashoda mother and the people of Braj. Therefore, expressing their devotion and reverence towards Lord Shri Krishna, all the Braj residents and Yashoda Maa prepared 7×8=56 different dishes and offered them to Bal Gopal at eight o’clock. Since then, 56 offerings are offered to Lord Krishna in the worship of Ashta Prahar in the temples of Braj.
