Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is revered as the god of love, tenderness, and compassion. The festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) . Here are some key facts about Janmashtami:

• Celebration: Janmashtami is celebrated with great fervor and zeal in India during the monsoon month. It is one of the biggest religious festivals in the world, celebrated by 930 million people around the world and 2 million in the US alone. Celebrations include fasting, singing, praying together, preparing and sharing special food, night vigils, and visiting Krishna or Vishnu temples.

• Significance: Lord Krishna is believed to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is revered across India. He is known for his personable-ness and his ability to reciprocate in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers him love. On Janmashtami, devotees celebrate Krishna in all of his aspects, including as an adorable, mischievous son, a romantic lover, and a compassionate friend.

• Rituals: Rituals associated with Janmashtami include reading and recitation of religious texts, dance and enactments of the life of Krishna according to the Bhagavata Purana, devotional singing till midnight (the time of Krishnas birth), and fasting (upavasa), amongst other things. Temples prepare at least 108 different food dishes on Janmashtami.

• Dahi Handi: Dahi Handi is an important aspect of Janmashtami that is observed in the second day of the festival. It is an event where an earthen pot or handi is filled with butter, clarified butter or ghee, dry fruits, and milk, and is suspended at a considerable height with the help of ropes. This event is a reenactment of Lord Krishnas childhood, where he used to steal butter from every household of Gokul.

Janmashtami is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, and is widely celebrated across India and abroad.