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New Delhi: Amid blowing of conch shells and chants of vedic hymns, devotees thronged Lord Krishna temples across the country today to celebrate Janmashtami with traditional gaiety.
In Mumbai, youngsters went around the city in processions and broke ‘dahi handi’ (pot filled with butter or curd and tied to a rope as high as 40-ft).
The faithful formed pyramids at various places to reach the handi as those gathered attempted to thwart their efforts by splashing water on them.
Actor John Abraham, wearing an 'Anna' cap, breaking a handi of corruption as he participates in Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane near Mumbai on Monday. PTI
Security was tightened as over 10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at temples in Mathura where the deity is believed to have been born.
“The celebrations started this morning after bathing Krishna ji with water from the Yamuna. A special Abhishek (bathing the deity) was performed amid chanting of Vedic hymns, beating of drums and playing of musical instruments,” said Dinesh Chandra Goswami, a priest at the Radha Raman temple.
Janmashtami was also celebrated in temples of nearby towns of Vrindavan, Baldeo and Goverdhan.
In Jammu and Kashmir, long-winding queues were seen outside lit-up temples as fervour marked the festivities. Raghunath rath yatras, some with tableaux depicting various aspects of the life of Lord Krishna, were also taken out in various parts of Jammu in which hundreds participated.
PTI
