4 September 2026, Amritapuri – Sri Krishna Jayanti Celebrations
Amritapuri celebrated Sri Krishna Jayanti with traditional festivities, devotional music, dance and prayers, culminating in the midnight celebration of Sri Krishna’s birth.
The celebrations began in the morning with a colourful Go Puja procession honouring the Ashram cows. The cows were garlanded, wrapped in traditional cloth and lovingly fed. Ashram children led the procession with great enthusiasm, singing Krishna bhajans and playing musical instruments.
In the evening, Uriyadi, the traditional pot-breaking game associated with Krishna’s childhood pastimes, was held in front of the Kali Temple. The games took place amidst the chanting of the Hare Rama mantra and bhajans.
Children of different ages took turns leaping high and trying to break the pot with a stick as it was pulled up and down. The celebrations also featured beautiful dance performances, including a rain dance by eight brahmacharinis and swaminis and another presented by the Ashram children.
Amma filled the atmosphere with joy as she sang songs expressing Mirabai’s indescribable love for Sri Krishna.
“The birth anniversary of an Avatara points us towards immortality”
In her Sri Krishna Jayanti message, Amma spoke about the significance of Krishna’s avatara and the different ways in which people experienced him.
“Aṣṭamī Rohiṇī is the sacred day on which the Paramātmā—which is beyond all limitations—chose to take avatāra, taking on all the limitations of human existence, for the upliftment of the world,” Amma said.
Amma explained that while every birthday reminds us of mortality, the birth anniversary of an avatara points towards immortality.
“Everyone who is born must one day die. In that sense, every birthday reminds us of our mortality. But the birth anniversary of an avatāra reveals something entirely different—it points us towards immortality. It calls on us to discover the immortal essence of our own being.”
Amma described Krishna as both ordinary and extraordinary, human and divine. For the people of Ambadi, he was Kanna, the playful butter thief. For the gopis and cowherds of Vrindavanam, he was their beloved friend. To Yashoda, he was her cherished Kanna, the embodiment of love and affection.
To the people of Mathura and Dvaraka, Krishna was an exemplary king. To Uddhava, Vidhura, Bhishma, Narada and many others, he was the complete embodiment of the Divine. To devotees, he was their ever-present protector, while to the wise he was the Supreme Guru who revealed the highest truth.
“To the yogis, he was Yogeshvara—the Lord of Yoga. For the world today, Krishna is a guide on the journey of life and a great sadguru. His Bhagavad-Gita remains the timeless crown jewel of all spiritual teachings,” Amma said.
She reminded devotees that each person’s understanding of Krishna is shaped by their own perspective.
“In truth, Krishna is all of these things—and yet He is far beyond them all as well.”
Amma emphasised that divine love is essential for a peaceful and beautiful life. “Without divine love, life has neither beauty nor peace,” she said, explaining that true devotion arises when our attention and interest become wholly turned towards the Lord.
“When we become so absorbed in our devotion that everything else fades away, life becomes filled with joy. The sweetness of divine love remains in the heart forever.”
Amma concluded her message with a prayer: “May all my children rise to the bliss of that fulfilment. May divine grace shower blessings upon all my children.”
Welcoming Krishna at midnight
Just before midnight, the celebrations continued in the Bhajan Hall with the reading of Sri Krishna’s birth from the Srimad Bhagavatam. A Bala Gopala Puja was also performed.
As the clock struck midnight, the narration reached the moment of Krishna’s birth. Conches and trumpets sounded in celebration, bells rang and camphor was lit. Amma sang “Agatanay Agatanay Vishnu Devan,” welcoming the Divine.
More bhajans followed, after which Amma served payasam to all who had gathered.
The celebrations brought together the many dimensions of Krishna’s life and message—devotion, joy, playfulness, love and the highest spiritual wisdom—making Sri Krishna Jayanti a memorable occasion for Amma’s children at Amritapuri.
-KaliCharan
