Janmashtami celebrated with religious fervour

PATNA: Patnaites celebrated Gokulashtami, popularly known as Janmashtami, with religious fervour on Friday.
Festivities began with large number of devotees thronging temples, performing puja and chanting mantras.
“Janmashtami holds a special place in my heart because I pray to Lord Krishna for the well-being of my children every year,” Saguna Mor resident Manorma Devi told this newspaper.
Women also observed fast on the occasion and ended the day with traditional home-cooked food.
Kadamkuan resident Pritee Prasad broke her daylong fast in the evening after worshipping Lord Krishna. She exclaimed, “I enjoyed eating ‘singhare ka halwa’, ‘sabudane ki kheer’ and ‘rajgira’.”
‘Dahi Handi’ competitions and ‘Krishna satsangs’ were also organized at various places in the city.
Meanwhile, chief minister Nitish Kumar extended greetings to devotees on the eve of Janmashtami.
“The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated on the eighth day in the month of Bhadon with great zeal and enthusiasm. On the occasion of Janmashtami, people pray for the welfare and prosperity of their families. The festival brings people together,” he said.