Mathura in Uttar Pradesh is the birth place of Krishna. It is known much for its culture and heritage. It is also one of the sites that is known for granting moksha or salvation to the pilgrims visiting it.
Janamashtami is the most popular festival celebrated here. It includes staying up till midnight, fasting, singing hymns in praise of krishna, dancing and offering prayers through mantras and artis.
At midnight, an idol of infant Krishna is bathed in pure water and milk, dressed in colourful clothes and placed in a beautiful cradle. Devotees rock the cradle amidst the sounds of bells and conch shells. Special prasad is distributed to celebrate the birth of the lord. It is a place you must visit to experience different flavours of Janamashtami.
However, one of the interesting facts about Mathura is that there is an elephant here that does the Aarati. He is trained so as to perform the ritual everyd ay. Not even one day, the pachyderm forgets to perform the Aarati.
It also blesses the devotees who come to the temple. There are instances wherein devotees say that their wishes have been fulfilled after coming to the temple. The elephant attracts a huge spectators for his unusual practice.
PNN/Agencies