nPostednAugust 28, 2013
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Todaynis celebrated as the birthday of the Hindu god Krishna.
Todaynis celebrated as the birthday of the Hindu god Krishna.n
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nIt’sna really big deal! According to some sources, this holiday is likenChristmas and New Year’s rolled into one, for more than 900 millionnpeople worldwide. Of course, with so many celebrations in so manynplaces, there are a lot of variations of customs.
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nFor some,nfestivities begin before dawn and extend all day until midnight.nThere is prayer and scripture reading, singing and dancing, fastingnand feasting, ceremonial washing statues of gods, and decoratingntemples and statues of Krishna. People often re-enact scenes fromnKrishna’s life or perform other dramas. In some places, teams ofnyoung men form human towers so they can reach and break a pot ofnbutter that has been hung up high. People often exchange gifts; innsome places people compete for cash awards.
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nThenstory of Krishna’s birth has a few similarities with the story ofnJesus’s birth:
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nAnnevil ruler had heard a prophecy that one of the sons of his sisternand her husband would destroy him, so he imprisoned the couple. Eachntime the couple had a baby (always a boy), the evil ruler had hisnnewborn nephew killed. Before their eighth son was born, the couplenwas already mourning his death, but the Supreme Lord Vishnu appearednand assured them that he himself was coming in the form of this baby.nVishu instructed the father to take the baby, the moment he was born,nto the home of a cowherd and swap his baby boy for the cowherd’snnewborn daughter. Of course, the father pointed out that he was anprisoner and couldn’t go anywhere at all—but Vishnu assured himnthat all the barriers would give way on this important night.
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Krishnanwas born exactly at midnight, and his earthly father did as Vishnunsaid. Magically, his leg irons broke apart, the door lock opened, theniron bars gave way, and Krishna’s father was able to get to thencowherd’s house and make the swap. When Krishna’s father returned tonhis wife, all the doors and bars and locks and leg chains snappednback into place.
Krishnanwas born exactly at midnight, and his earthly father did as Vishnunsaid. Magically, his leg irons broke apart, the door lock opened, theniron bars gave way, and Krishna’s father was able to get to thencowherd’s house and make the swap. When Krishna’s father returned tonhis wife, all the doors and bars and locks and leg chains snappednback into place.n
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nWhennthe evil ruler arrived the next morning, ready to kill the new baby,nhe discovered that it was a baby girl. He still tried to kill theninfant, but she was transformed into a goddess who taunted the rulernwith the knowledge that his nemesis was hidden somewhere else.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnniversary of the beginning of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
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nAnniversarynof the discovery of a very special moon
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nAnniversarynof MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech
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nPlannahead:
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nHerenare my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Septembernholidays, historicalnanniversaries in September, and Septembernbirthdays.
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