Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/117

Rh amongst the gods." Thus saying the being vanished.

Kamsa was greatly alarmed. He called a big council and ordered active search to be made for whatever young children there may be on earth and ordered that every boy in whom they observed signs of unusual vigour be put to death without any remorse. Notwithstanding all these precautions, Balarama and Krishna were growing up at the abode of Nanda, where they were roaming in the woods and joining in the sports of herdsmen’s sons and daughters. When he attained to Man’s estate Krishna proceeded to Gujarat, built Dvaraka and transferred to that place all the inhabitants of Muttra, after killing Kamsa in a combat.

Krishnashtami is the festival which is celebrated in honour of the birthday of Krishna. At about midnight, on the Ashtami night (September 8th), a clay image of Krishna in the form of a baby is made in every Hindu house and worshipped. Several dishes of sweets are offered to the god, to be consumed afterwards by the inmates of the house. Apart from its importance from a religious point of view the feast is very popular with Hindu