Krishna Jayanthi Celebration and Menu

As most of you know tomorrow(for some people) and day after tomorrow (for some people) is krishna jayanthi.Lord Krishna is said to be born on the ashtami thidhi (eight day of dark fortnight) on tamil month Avani and the star is Rohini.Few people celebrate it on the eight day and few people celebrate it on the day when the star is rohini and hence two days celebrations.Read more about it here.In south Indian homes there are so many delicacies prepared during this festival as offering to Lord Krishna.Here is how it is celebrated in our home.
Lord Krishna is believed to be born on sandhya velai (dusk)So the pooja is usually done after 6PM.Typically we are supposed to fast from the morning and eat after the pooja is done.We draw a big kolam in front of our house and from there we draw small foots throught the house till the pooja room.This is done to emphasis the entry of Lord Krishna in to the house.Then around 6Pm we decorate the Idol of Lord Krishna with flowers and lit lamp.Then we do some pooja and offer the festive spread.After finishing the pooja we break the fast with butter and seedai which will be followed by festive spread.
Offerings
Fresh milk
Fresh curd
Fresh butter with sugar,
Aval(beaten rice)
Fruits (mainly naval pazham (Indian jamun) and berikai(Pear)
Uppu seedai
Vella seedai
Kai muruku
Seeyam
Thattai
Burfi
Festive spread
Steamed rice
Toor dal
Mor kuzhambu
Vadai
Payasam
Chips
Appalam (Pappad)
Kootu (any variety)
Poriyal (any variety)
Pachadi(Raita)
This is the way we celebrate in our home.There are may be lots of variations in traditions from home to home,place to place and state to state.I just wanted to share our method with you all.Hope ypu liked the read :)
I wish one and all a very happy Krishna jayanthi-Janmashtami.May Lord Krishna bring loads of happiness,prosperity and joyous moments to your homes :)