Janmashtami Contests for Kids & Families
Encourage your children to celebrate Krishna consciousness through recitation, dress-up, quiz, music, storytelling, and creative arts. All participants receive the blessings of Lord Krishna!
Dress to be Blessed
Dress your child in the most attractive Krishna attire and win prizes for the most impressive attires!
Shlokanjali
Sloka Memorisation Challenge! Recite slokas from Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam for different age groups.
Kalanjali
Bring out the artist in you! A colouring and drawing competition for kids to express their devotion through art.
Kirtanam
Sing and express your devotion with a melodious bhajan! Show your love to Krishna by singing His glories.
Kathamrta
Let's meditate on the Lord's appearance day by reciting His wonderful pastimes through storytelling.
Detailed Contest Rules
Dress to be Blessed
Open
Dress your child in the most attractive Krishna attire and win prizes for the most impressive attires!
Age Groups & Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Authenticity, adherence to time limit
Prizes & Blessings
Attractive prizes for the winners. Blessings of Lord Krishna to every participant.
Shlokanjali
Open
Sloka Memorisation Challenge! Recite slokas from Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam for different age groups.
Age Groups & Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Completeness, correctness of words, pronunciation, and meter
Prizes & Blessings
Attractive prizes for the top three winners. Blessings of Lord Krishna to every participant.
Kalanjali
Open
Bring out the artist in you! A colouring and drawing competition for kids to express their devotion through art.
Age Groups & Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Completeness, Creativity/Innovation, Neatness, Choice of colours
Prizes & Blessings
Attractive prizes for the top three winners. Blessings of Lord Krishna to every participant.
Kirtanam
Open
Sing and express your devotion with a melodious bhajan! Show your love to Krishna by singing His glories.
Age Groups & Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Completeness, Raga & bhava (melody and emotion)
Prizes & Blessings
Attractive prizes for the top three winners. Blessings of Lord Krishna to every participant.
Kathamrta
Open
Let's meditate on the Lord's appearance day by reciting His wonderful pastimes through storytelling.
Age Groups & Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Authenticity, message and storytelling skills
Prizes & Blessings
Attractive prizes for the top three winners. Blessings of Lord Krishna to every participant.
Offer Your Seva for Janmashtami
Participate in the sacred festivities by offering your devotional service. Your contributions help make this grand celebration possible.
Panchamrita Abhisheka
Participate in the sacred bathing ceremony of the Lord with five nectarean substances — milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar.
Offer SevaJanmashtami Homam
Sponsor the sacred fire ceremony invoking the Lord's presence and blessings for the well-being of all beings.
Offer SevaJanmashtami Archana
Offer special flower and mantra worship to the Lord on His auspicious appearance day.
Offer SevaContest Registration
Register for your chosen contest. Registration fee is ₹50 per participant per contest. Secure your spot today!
Participant Details
Vrata & Worship Overview
Calendar: Celebrated on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami (8th day of waning moon) (August/September)
Significance: The appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, to end evil and protect His devotees.
Key Highlights: Day-long fasting until midnight, grand abhishekam, elaborate flower decorations, 108 dishes offered, and ecstatic midnight arati.
Observance: Held on the scheduled event date. Please check the Vaishnava Calendar for the exact day this year.
Janmashtami is one of the most prominent festivals, celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees express their love for the Lord through fasts, night sankirtans, dramatic presentations, and temple offerings.
The advent of Lord Krishna is highly significant. The reason for the Supreme Lord's descent is to end the cruel rule of demon Kansa and give pleasure to His surrendered devotees. Lord Krishna appeared in the prison of Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of Krishna paksha to Mother Devaki and Vasudeva.
Prophecy and the Trials of Devaki
According to the Puranas, King Kansa made grand arrangements for the marriage of his sister Devaki. But during the wedding procession, a voice from the sky foretold that Devaki's eighth son would destroy Kansa and end his dictatorial rule. In a rage, Kansa grabbed Devaki's hair to kill her. Vasudeva stepped in with patience and wisdom to save his wife, promising Kansa that they would hand over every child born to them.
The Divine Descent
At midnight, the eighth child appeared. Lord Krishna descended not as an ordinary human child, but in His four-armed (chaturbhuj) form, adorned with jewels, holding a disc, conch, club, and lotus. He then adopted the form of a small baby. As soon as the Lord appeared, the shackles unlocked, the iron gates of the prison cell opened by themselves, and all the guards fell under a deep magic spell.
"yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham"
"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself." — Bhagavad Gita 4.7
How Janmashtami is Celebrated
- Fasting: Devotees fast the entire day until midnight to focus their thoughts on Krishna.
- Abhisheka: The deities are bathed in auspicious liquids (milk, honey, yogurt, fruit juices) in a grand, two-hour ceremony.
- Offerings: Priests offer a massive feast of over a hundred different preparations.
- Bhajans & Kirtans: Congregational singing of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra echoes throughout the day.
- Altar Opening: At midnight, the curtains pull back to reveal the freshly dressed deities on a beautifully festooned altar, followed by a rousing, ecstatic arati.
Historical Background
Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the prison of Mathura at midnight on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami. Born to Devaki and Vasudeva, Krishna advent was prophesied to end the tyrannical rule of King Kansa.
Spiritual Significance
Lord Krishna appearance marks the descent of the Absolute Truth into this material world. As He states in the Bhagavad-gita (4.7-8), Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, I descend Myself.
Blessings & Benefits
Sponsoring Janmashtami celebrations brings immense spiritual blessings. Fasting and worshipping on this day removes all sins and bestows liberation. Donors receive the Lord special blessings and protection.
Janmashtami
Support this sacred occasion by offering your contribution. Every donation, no matter how small, is a cherished offering to the Lord.
Offer Janmashtami Seva