GUWAHATI, Aug 19: Janmashtami was celebrated across Assam with religious zeal and fervour on Friday.
Devotees believe that Lord Krishna was born on this day, as per the Hindu calendar, and Janmashtami is celebrated to mark the occasion.
From temples to namghars (Vaishnavite prayer halls), special puja and other programmes have been lined up for the entire day, with most to continue till late at night.
The ISKCON temple in Guwahati organised elaborate programmes on the occasion with devotees making a beeline in the morning to pay obeisance and seek blessings.
The Hare Krishna Mandir, Guwahati, is celebrating the occasion with a four-day programme, which began on Thursday at their temple in north Guwahati area.
Cultural programmes have been organised, along with religious activities as part of the programmes, the organisers said.
The namghars under the ‘satras’ (Vaishnavite monasteries) have especially been decked up for Janmashtami as naam-kirtan (religious prayers) are being offered to Lord Krishna, celebrating his birth and life.
Governor Jagdish Mukhi and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, among others, greeted the people on the occasion.
Mukhi, in a tweet, extended his greetings to the people and urged everyone to follow the path shown by Lord Krishna.
“Lord Shri Krishna is the symbol of Dharma, Karma and Truth. Come, today, on this auspicious occasion, let us resolve to make our society and nation more strong and prosperous by following the path of Karma shown by Lord Shri Krishna,” the Governor wrote.
Sarma also took to the micro-blogging site to extend his wishes.
“I pray at the feet of Lord Krishna that the blessings of the Lord will bring good news for the development of the state in the coming days,” he wrote. (PTI)