*Living with Sri Krishana, Janmashtami celebrations at Amritapuri*
The day’s festivities began with the Go Puja, the traditional cow worship. This ceremony is done on this day because Sri Krishna was a cowherd in his youth. At the head of a procession, the Ashram cows made their way to the front of the ashram where the special puja was performed.
Amma joined in the festivities, observing the Uriyadi games, surrounded by countless little Krishnas and Radhas, including some very little ones who sat on Amma’s lap.
Later, Amma sang many songs to Sri Krishna during the evening bhajans. Then, after the traditional reading of the Srimad Bhagavatam, as the clock struck midnight, amidst arati and the reverberations of gongs and drums, the moment of Sri Krishna’s birth was commemorated, and it was as if he was being born again in that very moment in the hearts of the assembled devotees.
After her message, Amma sang, ‘Madhava gopala mana mohana gopala,’ and danced along with the devotees. Finally, Amma led all in a for a prayer for world peace and distributed prasad.
All went to bed with minds full of Sri Krishna, and with hearts full of gratitude for the blessing of being able to live in Amma’s presence, every moment of their lives drenched in love, just as the gopis and gopas lived with Sri Krishna.
read more from source: http://amrit.am/17ashtami