Dear Editor,

GUYANESE Hindus in New York and elsewhere in the US celebrated Lord Krishna’s birth, called Janamashtmi, on Thursday evening and Friday morning with fasting and prayers in mandirs and homes. There is over a hundred Guyanese mandirs in America spread across major cities from Texas to Florida to New York and Minnesota and elsewhere.  One is inspired by Hindu Guyanese diaspora and other nationalities coming together to celebrate the festival as they did in Guyana or their home countries. Worshippers crowded mandirs in Queens for the celebration although it was a work day. Mandirs held congregational worshipping and kirtan singing.

In the many mandirs, the festival was celebrated in great pomp, splendor, and full glory just like in Guyana. Lord Krishna Murthi stood up, well decked up with colourful clothing and decorations. Mandirs were dressed and lit up with a variety of colours. Devotees were clad in colourful traditional clothing. Devotees observed Janamashtmi with utmost devotion and veneration. Offerings were made and delicious sweets and delectable dishes served.
Lord Krishna appeared in Mathura and lived in Vrindavan, state of Uttar Pradesh, India some 5,200 hundred years ago. Uttar Pradesh is where the bulk of Indian Guyanese trace their roots.

Lord Krishna is known as an avatar of Lord Vishnu, the protector of human. Lord Krishna was born to Vasudev and Devaki and held prisoner by the evil ruler Kansha in Mathura. He was saved and went on to guide humanity on the path of righteousness, truth, justice and immortality.

His life is recorded in the holy Bhagavad Gita, and his name is associated with the famous Mahabharata War that saw the Pandavas and Kauravas, two sets of families, engage in battle with each other. Krishna joined the side that was disadvantaged and bullied and encouraged humans to stand on the side of justice. Krishna Janmastami is celebrated to cherish his good deeds so one may have a blessed and prosperous life.

Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which generally falls in mid-August. Devotees observed a fast (avoiding food or avoiding non-veg) for the whole day and night, worshipping Lord Krishna and or keeping vigil through the night while listening to his message, reciting hymns from the Holy Gita, singing devotional songs, and chanting mantras as incense burned in a fire and agarbati was light to cleanse the atmosphere. There were elaborate ceremonies at the mandirs including oblations and offerings and rocking of a hammock with a small murthi of Lord Krishna.
After service, there was aartee for Lord Krishna, distribution of prasad, followed by bhojan or meals.  Some devotees, especially women, spent Thursday night chanting, praying, and engaging in devotional singing.

Yours sincerely,

Vishnu Bisram