Janmashtmi celebrated across India amid tight security

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The country today celebrated Janmashtami with religious fervour and pomp and ceremony as devotees thronged temples to mark the birth of Krishna, Lord Vishnu's eighth incarnation, invoking the Lord with Sankrit verses and blowing of conches.

The occasion was celebrated amid unprecedented security.

Processions of 'jhankis'(floats) were taken out depicting scenes of Lord Krishna's birth, childhood and other events. Temples and houses were decorated beautifully and people were seen performing 'dandia'.

Kirtans and bhajans, praising the love between Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, reverberated all around as idols of 'Balgopal' were swayed in cradles amid arti(ritualistic ablotions) and puja since last night.

Long queues of people waited outside the Akshardham temple, the Birla temple and the ISKCON temple. Frequent power cuts, however, forced some temples to scale down their lighting arrangements.

The Delhi Police had beefed-up security at vital installations including the Parliment House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM's residence and Delhi Metro in view of a perception of an impending terror strike. A posse of police personnel was deployed in Delhi Metro cars to avert any untoward incidents. The travellers were advised not to carry any liquid, including liquid lip-gloss, in the metro cars.

In Mumbai the ''Govindas'' made it a grand affair by forming pyramids to break pots in the famous 'Dahi-Handi' competions.

The tradition of forming human pyramids to reach the pot containing curd and puffed rice relives the childhood pranks of Lord Krishna. Youth organisations, mandals including that of women, in every nook and corner of the city and suburbs as well as residential colonies geared up to to form human pyramids to perform the traditional ceremony of 'dahi haandi'. Young men and women were seen singing 'Govinda ala re' and other popular festive numbers from Hindi movies.

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