Little Krishnas All Around as India Celebrates Janmashtami

Children across the country dress as Lord Krishna to celebrate Janmashtami.

Children cheer as they celebrate Janmashtami festival, marking the birth anniversary of Hindu Lord Krishna, at a school in Ahmedabad. (Photo: Reuters)

Lord Krishna is by far the most popular deity from Hindu mythology, and one can imagine the gusto with which his birthday is celebrated in India.

Janmashtami, as the name suggests, is Krishna’s birthday. Notorious for stealing butter, the mythology of Krishna has inspired the Dahi Handi ceremony, where people make a human pyramid and compete with other groups to break an earthen pot of butter and yogurt.

School children are dressed up as the dusky-skinned Krishna and his female companion Radha.

A student participates in celebrations ahead of the Janmashtami festival, which marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna in Mumbai. (Photo: Reuters)

A young child dressed as Krishna on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami in Beawar, Rajasthan. (Photo: PTI)

Students participate in celebrations ahead of the Janmashtami festival, which marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna in Mumbai. (Photo: Reuters)

Girls dressed up as Radha, consort of Hindu Lord Krishna, pray inside a classroom as they celebrate Janmashtami festival marking the birth anniversary of Krishna, at a school in Ahmedabad. (Photo: Reuters)

Children dressed up as Lord Krishna pose during Janmashtami festival celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Krishna in Agartala. (Photo: Reuters)

A child dressed as Lord Krishna for a school function ahead of Janmashtami in Bikaner on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI)

Children dressed as Krishna ahead of a function in Mumbai. (Photo: IANS)

Children participate in a programme organised to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in Patna. (Photo: IANS)

A group of children, all dressed as Lord Krishna, to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in Bolpur of West Bengal. (Photo: IANS)