Janmashtami, one of the major Hindu festivals commemorating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, is being celebrated across Bangladesh today with religious devotion and festive cheer.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the Bengali month of Bhadra. He is believed to incarnate in every age to protect the virtuous, uphold justice, and establish truth and beauty in society. The festival is observed on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the months of Shraban or Bhadra.
Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus extended greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion. The day is also a public holiday in Bangladesh.
Temples, religious organizations, and various institutions across the country have organized special programmes to mark the day. National newspapers have published articles on the festival, while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and private TV and radio stations are airing programmes highlighting different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life and philosophy.
In Dhaka, the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee is organizing central celebrations at the Dhakeshwari National Temple. The programme includes Geeta Joggo at 8:00 am, followed by a Janmashtami procession at 3:00 pm starting from the city’s Palashi intersection.
The procession will be inaugurated by Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman and will also be attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Bangladesh Army 9th Infantry Division GOC Major General Md Moin Khan, among others.
The procession will pass through key city landmarks including Jagannath Hall, Shaheed Minar, Doyel Chattar, High Court intersection, Banga Bazar, and Golapshah Majar, concluding at Bahadur Shah Park.
On August 19, a discussion on Janmashtami will be held at Dhakeshwari National Temple, with Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar attending as chief guest.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been observing the festival with a four-day programme since August 14 at Swamibagh Ashram in Dhaka. Activities include recitation from the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, devotional songs, aarti, distribution of mahaprasad, discussions, and cultural programmes.
Janmashtami is also being celebrated in temples nationwide with various religious and cultural events, reflecting the community’s devotion and the festival’s significance.
