RAWALPINDI: Hindu families gathered at the Kirshna Temple in Saddar Bazaar on Friday to celebrate Janam Ashtami, the birthday of the Hindu god Krishna.

The celebrations started the night before with a pooja in the temple`s courtyard decorated with bright colours and string lights. Worshipers had dressed up for the occasion and chanted JaiKrishna, JaiNandlala,JaiGopala,Happy Janashtami A musical group was invited to recite verses from holy bool(s and sing various songs. Sweets were also distributed among worshippers and participants.

New pictures of Hindu god Krishna and goddess Radha were also put up and decorated with garlands. After the pooja, an earthen pot filled with curd and butter was broken, as is tradition on this day. The custom is observed as, according to tradition, Lord Krishna liked having milk and butter and would often break the earthen pots in his courtyard.

The priest at the temple, Jai Ram, said the festival is celebrated every year and that it was one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar.

President of the All Pakistan Hindu and Sikh Welfare Association Jag Mohan Arora told Dawn that Hindu families from the twin cities had come to the temple to celebrate the festival, the arrangements for which were made by the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

He said the police had provided security for the festival, of which they had been informed a week before.

Mr Arora said the birthday celebrations of Lord Krishna were held in August each year as the Hindu god was born in the Bhadoon month, which is the second month of monsoon. Af ter the birth of Krishna, he said, the world was clean of evil forces and that the birth was the victory of good over evil.

He said that special prayers had been offered in the temple for the prosperity of the country and its citizens. He added that the Bhagvat Geeta, which is a compilation of Krishna`s speeches, also talks of spreading peaceandloveinthe world.-AReporter