Here are few pictures from the walled city area of Jaipur during Janmashtami celebrations in Jaipur. Jaipur loves to celebrate Janmashtami. These pictures were clicked prior to the grand procession of the festival near the Govind Devji Temple which has a huge following.







Here is a picture of a kid in a joyous mood at one of the heritage temples in Jaipur- Ramchandra Ji temple. Kids have their own way of celebrating. He was wheeling even though people around were busy in setting things up for the celebrations.

I clicked this picture in Sirehdyodi Bazaar near Hawa Mahal. It depicts the love for Lord Krishna. It’s a makeshift temple under a tree. Someone lighted a Diya (Indian version of a candle but it uses oil rather than wax) and placed a picture of Lord Krishna along with it. Marigold flowers spread all around complete the setting.
Lord Krishna is one of the most revered deities in Jaipur. There is a special relationship that people of Jaipur share with Govind Dev Ji or Lord Krishna. Jaipur is a vibrant place when it comes to religion. You will find a temple of almost every deity in the city. Not only that, there are many mosques, Gurudwaras, and churches as well. There is religious diversity in Jaipur
Stay updated via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Lord Krishna is one of the most popular deities in Hinduism. The reason Lord Govind Dev Ji is highly revered in Jaipur must be answered by delving into the history of Govind Devji Temple.
In 1727 AD Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II founded Jaipur as a new capital of Dhundhad region. Amer town preceded Jaipur as the capital of Dhundhad. The Rajput Kachhawah rulers of Amer followed Vaishnav sect of Hinduism. It’s believed that Kachhawah Rajput were lineal descendants of Lord Rama through his son Kush. As per religious and mythological belief, Lord Rama and Krishna are both avatars of Lord Vishnu.
Maharajah Man Singh I who was the ruler of Amer, constructed Govind Dev Ji temple in the holy city of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh in 1590 AD. Govind Dev Ji is one of manifestation of Lord Krishna. In 1669 AD Mughal ruler Aurangzeb who ruled vast tracts of India ordered the destruction of all Hindu temples in North India. With these orders in place, the idols at Govind Dev Ji temple were secretly shifted out of Vrindavan to save them from destruction at the behest of Amer rulers. Govind Devji temple in Vrindavan was plundered & damaged by the Mughal army. Few idols from the Govind Dev Ji temple, Vrindavan found their way to Amer in due course. These idols were then established at the Radha Madhav temple in Kanak Vrindavan.
The popular theory goes that Lord Govind Dev manifested in the dreams of Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II who founded Jaipur and asked him to shift his idol to the current site of Govind Dev Ji temple in Jaipur within the premises of royal abode. Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II ensured the same. He believed that the real ruler of the Jaipur was Lord Govind Dev and he was merely his disciple. This belief got passed on through all his lineal descendants; they too built many other rich and grand temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II was an ardent follower and his day would start with the darshan of his Lord. It’s natural for people of Jaipur to adore Lord Govind Dev Ji too.
The following of Govind Devji in Jaipur is as strong as it was 300 years ago. Every Janmasthmi, Govind Dev Ji temple celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna in a grand way. The celebration spans over a week and starts before the Janmashtami.
Check out my earlier write-up on Govind Dev Ji Temple. Click here to read more posts from the same category.
Wow… so colorful… Happy Janmasthmi…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you cerita for Janmashtmi greetings. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fascinating post! Janmastmi looks a wonderful festival, so vibrant and colourful. Thank you for the interesting history relating to Lord Krishna and Jaipur. I enjoyed reading that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! It’s great to know that Millie. sometimes I wonder why people from other continents feel it’s colorful here? 🙂
LikeLike
Everything about India seems colourful, compared to the UK! For a start, our weather is mostly grey – grey skies, lots of rain and generally plenty of wind. During the few really warm summers we have, clothing becomes more colourful here, but not like in India with the bright, richly dyed clothing. Indian food is colourful, and so are the temples and shrines to (mostly) the Hindu gods. India looks stunning to us here, believe me! Exotic and very beautiful. Even the elephants and camels make it appear so. Your beautiful photos show all that – as well as the glorious sunshine. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I haven’t been to UK but yes from what I have read in literature and heard sunshine is something people look forward to. In fact weather is so often starting subject in Europe among strangers. In India weather is not a popular subject. Yes we get plenty of sunshine. I guess colors are quite ingrained in our life. That’s one of reason we don’t notice the way others do! Thanks for elaborating Millie! 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome. You’re right, so often we don’t notice things that are part of our daily lives. We just take them for granted. Visitors to our countries often see and remark on things and make us stop and think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. we notice only things which are exception to what we’re used to! I’m sure I’ll find many great things if I were to visit your country! 🙂
LikeLike
Funny how your festival is so sunny while ours is all wet!
LikeLike
Next year how about coming down to Jaipur to celebrate? 🙂
LikeLike
Good idea! After I immerse my own little Ganesha
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Sorry arv , I meant the Janmashtami festival. I’ve never really celebrated it in Mumbai
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! I read so much about handi event in Mumbai!
LikeLike
Yes that’s for all the local men ( originally it started out by being a festival where mill workers and household help who lived in tenements and away from their families found this a great source of entertainment. The handi would actually have dahi in it and there would be a contributory cash prize and differed from tenement to tenement with the Govindas ( the men who made the pyramid) distributing the cash among themselves.
Gradually it became a more organised activity with teams competing for the prize money …. Now of course it has become completely commercialised .
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know how most of are traditional festivals are being “hijacked” for commercial gains. just look at diwali..mithai to chocolate! people are looking at ways to make money out of every opportunity! if this is good or bad…that’s relative!
LikeLike
Very nice post- the photos are so well captured an dI learned a lot about the history of the Govind Dev ji temple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sandhya! I’m glad that you liked it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pics! I never saw Janmashtami in Jaipur before. Mostly it is Varanasi or Vrindavan ones that are shown on television too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both these cities are synonymous with Hinduism so certainly it’s more popular. Yes Jaipur may not be popular for Janmashtmi celebrations on national level but it ‘s celebrated with full vigour and zest.
LikeLike
It is always an interesting thing to learn and to see of new things from other cultures and traditions. Thank you for sharing it with us here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True Sherrie! It’s always an opportunity to know more about other culture. Thanks for sharing your views 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so welcome, dear Arv!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like tag line of your blog – my thoughts my life….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Arv!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such colour and interesting history Arv! Learn something new every day! (ps..I’ve searched for those photo’s I told you about and can’t find them…I have a lap top that’s broken down and think they are on there, may be a while before I can get them off of it) That’s what I get for not doing back ups regularly! Great post! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Sorry to hear your laptop got off! Never mind! Yes back up is important. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
One day I’ll be able to get them Arv! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for being so considerate…I’ll wait ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Celebrating janmashtami in a grandeur. Lovely click showing the colours of Jaipur. History on lord Krishna and Jaipur was good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for appreciating! It feels nice to know someone who ‘s away from the county enjoyed reading it. I’m taking a guess that you must be missing all this. You must be celebrating festivals among Indian diaspora though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah. Here in Nairobi there is are lot of North Indian temples but we miss the celebration of South Indian festivities. It’s always there, the missing. I actually have not seen this kind of celebration, wish to see them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kenya has large Gujarati diaspora, I guess Janmashtmi must be celebrated with full vigour? Even though we belong to same country but there’s large contrast in our festivals and celebrations. In some US cities the Indian communities celebrate all Indian festivals and comprises of various Indian communities. It surely helps when you’re away from your country. in many ways this is something all Indians residing in India should learn! Celebrating and participating in each other’s celebrations !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah the Gujarati’s are a lot, settled here for almost three generations. As you say I haven’t attended these kind of festivals here. Will try to next time. True India is vast and each state has its own way of celebrating festivals. Good to know Jaipur’s way of celebrating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Meena! I know how it feels with the “missing”! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice pictures, they truly depict the enthusiasm of festivities we are known for!
LikeLiked by 1 person
With change in attitude of new generation towards customs and traditions, this enthusiasm is a welcome change!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems to me that the people of small towns still value their traditions…actually they are the ones who keep them alive and carry it forward. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true..I’ll agree with you! In big cities, people have little time!
LikeLike
Nice coverage. I went to a temple here in NJ but miss the grand celebrations that happen in India.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is there ISCON temple in New Jersey?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are many over here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely snapshots Arv! Had visited this temple as a child…your post brought back some wonderful memories of childhood.
LikeLike
Good to know that this post helped you revive memories! It’s a very popular temple, as you know Esha! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts here! 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations with your holiday! It might be one more rightful celebration of India. Thank you for letting know more about Indian culture and history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You for sharing your thoughts.. Lidiia! I’m happy that this post led you through our culture, history and religious customs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing all those stories and insperation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy that you liked it Lidiia! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are three things I like about Jaipur, first the food, second the amazing people and third the grand celebrations ! And this surely is in the spirit of Royal Rajasthan ! Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You for sharing your thoughts. It’s true that Jaipur has tradition of celebrating things in it’s own style. While one can witness all this in the festival and events that are celebrated in Jaipur, the fall out has been that it has become one of India’s top wedding destination. Thanks for your visit! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You live in such a vibrant and colourful city. I have always wanted to visit Jaipur, but somehow it has not happened yet. sometime in the future I hope!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it’ll…
In which city do you reside Radhika?
LikeLike
Hyderabad
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great Radhika! ‘cybera-bad ‘ !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yes😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Hare krishna
LikeLiked by 1 person
In maharashtra also the celebrations are almost similar 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess Ganesh chaturthi is celebrated much more popular festival in Maharatsra?
LikeLike
Hope you like my blog
LikeLike
Done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike