May Lord Krishna be with you and your family, always! Blessings of Health, Wealth, Love, and Happiness. Happy Janmashtami!
Krishna Janmashtami 2023 messages and greetings
- Krishna, the divine teacher of the universe, is always here with you — to guide you to lead your life with clarity, joy, confidence, and hope. Let the day of Krishnashtami ignite benevolent spirits in you and dispel the darkness of ignorance. May you be blessed with divine protection.
- May Lord Krishna be with you and your family, always! Blessings of Health, Wealth, Love, and Happiness. Happy Janmashtami!
- Murli Manohar… Giridhara Gopala… Govinda Hari… This Janmashtami, as you chant the names of Shri Lord Krishna, may he shower upon you his divine blessings. Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna… Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare… Wishing you a happy and blessed Krishna Janmashtami!
- May the blessings of Lord Krishna enhance each moment of your life… this Janmashtami… and always!
- May the blessings of Lord Krishna always be with you and your family. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Janmashtami!
- May Lord Krishna bless you and your family with peace and happiness… Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
- Sending your way, warm heartfelt wishes. May you enjoy this joyous occasion. Happy Janmashtami!
- May the Natkhat Nand Lal always provide you and your family with happiness, health, and prosperity.
- May the festival of Janmashtami bring you joy, peace, and love. Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
- May Lord Krishna’s flute invite the melody of love into your life. Wishing you all very Happy Janmashtami!.
- May Lord Krishna steal all your tensions and worries… And give you all the love, peace, and happiness on this holy occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.
- On this Janmashtami, may all your wishes come true and may Nand Gopal shower his blessings on you and your loved ones! Happy Janmashtami!
- May the blessings of Lord Krishna fill your life with happiness on this Janmashtami.
- May Lord Krishna give you strength and inspire you to face all problems in life with great courage. Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
- May Lord Krishna come to your house and take away your Makhan & Mishri along with all your worries & sorrows.
- Let there be love and laughter in your life with Lord Krishna’s blessings. Happy Janmashtami!
- On this holy occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, I hope and pray that the blessings of Shri Krishna may always be with you. May your heart and home be filled with happiness, peace and prosperity. Happy Janmashtami!
- This Shri Krishna Janmashtami, eliminate the Kansa within you, to restore Dharma. May only goodness prevail. Here’s wishing a very Happy Shri Krishna Janmashtami to you and your family.
- May this auspicious occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami bring a lot of positivity, peace and harmony in your life. Happy Janmashtami to you.
- May Lord Krishna give you strength and inspire you to face all problems in life with great courage. Happy Krishna Janmashtami!
Happy Krishna Janmashtami – quotes from Bhagavad Gita
“The secret of karma yoga which is to perform actions without any fruitive desires is taught by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita” – Swami Vivekananda
“It is better to perform one’s own duties imperfectly than to master the duties of another. By fulfilling the obligations one is born with, a person never comes to grief”
“The message of the Gita is to be found in the second chapter of the Gita where Lord Krishna speaks of the balanced state of mind, of mental equipoise” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice”
“Experience cold or heat, pleasure, or pain. These experiences are fleeting; they come and go. Bear them patiently”
“I enter into each planet, and by My energy, they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables”
Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes Images
“Wishing you a blessed and Happy Krishna Janmashtami full of celebrations, feasts and good times with your family and friends.”
“On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, I wish that Kanha blesses you with eternal happiness and prosperity in life.”
“May success comes your way, may there are more opportunities over challenges, may there is more happiness than sorrows…. Warm wishes on Janmashtami to you.”
“May Krishna come into your life and bring along lots of success and prosperity…. May Krishna is always there to guide you towards a better life…. Happy Janmashtami.”
Krishna Janmashtami Wishes in English
Send your love and warm wishes to your near and dear ones with Janmashtami messages with pictures and Krishna Janmashtami greetings messages. This newest collection of Janmashtami wishes in English is the most delightful way to have celebrations that last forever.
“It was today that Lord Krishna was born to destroy the evil and bring goodness in our lives…. Let us celebrate this wonderful occasion with high spirits…. Happy Krishna Janmashtami.”
“The day to observe fast, the day to pray and also the day to enjoy the feast as we all welcome the arrival of Kanha into our lives…. Warm wishes on Janmashtami.”
Happy Janmashtami Messages
“May your Janmashtami celebrations are full of festivities and fun, bright colours and enjoyment… Wishing a very Happy Janmashtami to you.”
“May the celebrations of Janmashtami don’t end… May the happiness and joy of this special day stay with you throughout the day…. Happy Janmashtami.”
Krishna Janmashtami 2023 Greeting Messages
Newest and original Krishna Janmashtami messages 2023 to share with one and all. Here are the most beautiful Krishna Janmashtami greetings messages and Janmashtami wishes to send your best wishes to your near and dear ones.
“Sending lots of warm wishes and greetings to you and your loved ones on occasion of Krishna Janmashtami…. May you seek blessings of Krishna and always be happy.”
“Devote yourself in celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna who has always been there to bring happiness into our lives…. Wishing a very Happy Janmashtami to you.”
“May you have the most memorable celebrations on Janmashtami with your loved ones by offering heartfelt prayers to Kanha and seek his blessings for a happier tomorrow.”
Best Wishes for Shri Krishna Janmashtami
“May Lord Krishna is always there to take away all your stress and leave you with happiness. Warm wishes on Shri Krishna Janmashtami to you.”
“On the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, I wish that you enjoy the blissful tunes of his flute and are always showered with his love. Happy Krishna Janmashtami.”
“Let us celebrate the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami by enjoying the soothing bajans and raas of Kanha. Wishing a very Happy Krishna Janmashtami to you.”
“May the celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami fill our hearts with hope, peace and happiness. Sending best wishes on Krishna Janmashtami to all.”
Krishna Janmashtami Quotes in English
“May Krishna come to your house and steal away all the maakhan and mishri….. May Krishna shower you with lots of happiness and prosperity…. Happy Janmashtami.”
“Wishing you a Janmashtami full of celebrations and festivities…. May the bright colours of Janmashtami fill you and your heart with eternal joy.”
Happy Krishna Janmashtami Messages 2023 Quotes
“On the festive occasion of Janmashtami, I wish that Lord Krishna is always there to guide you and protect you in life…. Happy Janmashtami to you.”
Janmashtami Messages Quotes in Hindi
“Krishna ka har ghar mein vaas ho…. Har ghar khushiyon se aabad ho…. Kanha ki kripa drishti rahe sab par…. Aisa aapka Krishna Janmashtami ka tyohar ho.”
“Janmashtami ke is paavan parv par yehi asha hai ki aapki zindagi mein khushiyan aayein hazar aur sada bana rahe aap par kanha ka ashirvad…. Hare Ram, Hare Krishna!!!”
“Krishna ki bhakti mein ho jaao leen aur aise manao Janmashtami ka tyohar ki har dil ho jaaye khushiyon mein vileen….. Janmashtami ki hardik badhai.”
Happy Birthday Lord Krishna Wishes
“Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Lord Krishna who always inspires us to be strong and right in our lives.”
“The occasion of Krishna Janmashtami gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves that we are brave and strong. Happy Birthday to Kanha.”
“On the birthday of Lord Krishna, let us promise ourselves that we will always follow what Krishna has taught us. Happy Krishna Janmashtami.”
“The right way to make the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami is to embrace and follow the teachings of Lord Krishna from Bhagwat Geeta.”
Happy Birthday Wishes with Lord Krishna Images
“May Lord Krishna is always there to bless our lives. Happy Birthday to Kanha.”
“May we devote ourselves into the bhakti to Kanha and make this life a worthy one. Warm wishes on Krishna Janmashtami.”
“The occasion of Krishna Janmashtami is all about losing yourself and finding Kanha. Happy Birthday to Krishna.”
“Till the time Lord Krishna is there to guide us and bless us, we have nothing to fear in our lives. Happy Krishna Janmashtami.”
Cute Janmashtami wishes
“Wishing a very Happy Janmashtami to you. May the lotus feet of Kanha come into your life and bring you eternal happiness and joy.”
“On the occasion of Janmashtami, I wish Krishna puts an end to all your worries and bestow you with new hopes and dreams. Warm wishes on Janmashtami to you.”
“May you are blessed with the most vibrant celebrations on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. May Krishna is always there to bless you.”
Birthday Wishes with Krishna Blessings
“Let us make the birthday of Lord Krishna special by being the best devotees to him. Warm wishes on Krishna Janmashtami.”
“May the festivities of Krishna Janmashtami be so bright and beautiful that Lord Krishna always remembers them. Happy Krishna Janmashtami.”
On the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, let us promise ourselves that we will always put karma before anything else. Warm wishes on this festive occasion.”
“May the festive celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami leave us with only happiness and smiles. Happy Birthday to Kanha.”
Happy krishna Janmashtami Messages
“May the celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami be full of joys and festivities for you with your family and friends. Happy Janmashtami to you.”
Krishna Janmashtami (Sanskrit: कृष्णजन्माष्टमी, romanized: Kṛṣṇajanmāṣṭamī), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the Gitagovinda, Krishna has been identified as supreme God and the source of all avatars.[5] Krishna’s birth is celebrated and observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in Shravana Masa (according to the amanta tradition) or Bhadrapada Masa (according to the purnimanta tradition). This overlaps with August or September of the Gregorian calendar.[5]
It is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism.[6] The celebratory customs associated with Janmashtami include a celebration festival, reading and recitation of religious texts, dance and enactments of the life of Krishna according to the Bhagavata Purana, devotional singing till midnight (the time of Krishna’s birth), and fasting (upavasa), amongst other things.[7] It is widely celebrated across India and abroad.[5][8][9]
Etymology
The meaning of the sanskrit word “janmashtami” can be understood by splitting it into the two words, “janma” and “ashtami.” The word “janma” means birth[10] and the word “ashtami” means eight; thus, Krishna Janmashtami is the celebration of Krishna’s birth on the eighth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapada (August–September).[11][12]
History
Information about Krishna’s life is noted in the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and Bhagavata Purana. Krishna is the eighth son of Devaki (mother) and Vasudeva (father).[5] Surrounding the time of his birth, persecution was rampant, freedoms were being denied, and King Kamsa‘s life was threatened.[13] Krishna was born within a prison in Mathura, India where his parents were constrained by his uncle, Kamsa.[5] During Devaki’s wedding, Kamsa was warned by a celestial voice that Devaki’s eighth son would be the cause of his death.[5] In an effort to defy this prophesy, Kamsa imprisoned Devaki and her husband and promptly killed the first six of her newborns after their birth.[5] The guards responsible for keeping watch over Devaki’s cell fell asleep and the cell doors were miraculously opened at the time of Krishna’s birth.[5] These events allowed Vasudeva to send Krishna across the Yamuna River to his foster parents, Yashoda (mother) and Nanda (father).[5] This legend is celebrated on Janmashtami by people keeping fasts, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna, and keeping a vigil into the night.[14]
Throughout Krishna’s childhood and young adult life, Balarama, Krishna’s half-brother, was a “constant companion” for him. Balarama joined Krishna in the major events that are celebrated in Vraja, Brindavan, Dravarka, and Mathura such as stealing butter, chasing calves, playing in the cow pens, and participating in wrestling matches.[15]
Observance and celebrations
.jpg "Krishna Janmashtami 2023 2")
Krishna Janmashtami holds significant importance to Hindus around the world, and it is celebrated in diverse forms depending on their regional and cultural customs.[16][6] Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing, praying together, preparing and sharing special food, night vigils, and visiting Krishna or Vishnu temples. The places of Mathura and Vrindavan are visited by pilgrims.[8] Some mandirs organize recitation of Bhagavad Gita in the days leading up to Janmashtami.[17] Many northern Indian communities organize dance-drama events called Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila.[14] The tradition of Rasa Lila is particularly popular in the Mathura region, in northeastern states of India such as Manipur and Assam, and in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is acted out by numerous teams of amateur artists, cheered on by their local communities, and these drama-dance plays begin a few days before each Janmashtami.[18][19] People decorate their houses with flowers and light.[20] On this day, people chant “Hare Krishna hare Krishna, Krishna- Krishna Hare Hare”. The Janmashtami celebration is followed by Dahi Handi, which is celebrated the next day.[21][22]
After Krishna’s midnight hour birth, forms of baby Krishna are bathed and clothed, then placed in a cradle. The devotees then break their fast by sharing food and sweets. Women draw tiny footprints outside their house doors and kitchen, walking towards their house, a symbolism for Krishna’s journey into their homes.[14]
Northern India
Janmashtami is the largest festival in the Braj region of north India, in cities such as Mathura where Hindu tradition states Krishna was born, and in Vrindavan where he grew up.[14] Vaishnava communities in these cities in Uttar Pradesh, as well as others in the state, as well as locations in Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himalayan north celebrate Janmashtami. Krishna temples are decorated and lighted up, they attract numerous visitors on the day, while Krishna devotees hold bhakti events and keep night vigil.[23]
The festival typically falls as the monsoons in north India have begun retreating, fields laden with crops and rural communities have time to play. In the northern states, Janmashtami is celebrated with the Raslila tradition, which literally means “play (Lila) of delight, essence (Rasa)”. This is expressed as solo or group dance and drama events at Janmashtami, wherein Krishna related compositions are sung, music accompanies the performance, while actors and audience share and celebrate the performance by clapping hands to mark the beat.[24] The childhood pranks of Krishna and the love affairs of Radha-Krishna are particularly popular. According to Christian Roy and other scholars, these Radha-Krishna love stories are Hindu symbolism for the longing and love of the human soul for the divine or Brahman.[25][24]
Poetry describing the feats of Krishna became popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries within the Braj region, and is written according to a vernacular called “Braj basha” (present-day “Hindi“).[26] The Braj basha poems of Surdas (collectively known as the Sursagar) are popularly recalled, some of which describe the birth and childhood of Krishna.[7]
Jammu Region
In Jammu region, Janamashtami is popularly known by the name “Thogre/Thakure da Vrat“[27] (meaning Vrat dedicated to Thakur i.e. Shri Krishna). Observing a Phalaahari Vrat for complete one day is the major ritual in the festival. The day is marked by numerous Phalaahari Dhaams or Bhandaras in the streets of Jammu region’s prominent towns.
Janamashtami marks the beginning of the kite-flying season in the Jammu region whereby locals gather and fly decorated kites from their rooftops.[28] While on the other hand, girls and women decorate their palms by applying Teera, dye of an indigenous plant.[27]
Another ceremony associated with Janamashtami in Jammu region is “Deyaa Parna” in which Dogras donate cereal grains in the name of their ancestors & Kuldevtas. A holy tree called jand is worshipped by women on this day. Special rotis called draupads are prepared and offered to cows and deities.[27]
During evening, devotees start assembling at mandirs (temples) and join in singing devotional songs called bhajan or kirtan. Many people dress their children up as a younger version of Krishna. At midnight Shri Krishna Janam is celebrated. Abhishek ceremony of Bal Gopaal is performed and Bhog of Sund Panjiri, Makkhan Mishri & Panchmeva is offered to Bal Gopaal ji.
Kashmir
Janamashtami is celebrated as Zaram Satam (Janam Saptami) by the native Kashmiri Pandits of Kashmir. The festival is associated with observing a vrat the whole day and visiting the Thokur Kuth (Krishna Mandir) at midnight. At night, puja is performed in the temples which includes performing abhishek (ritual bath) to the murti of Krishna, and singing bhajans (devotional songs). Food items appropriate for fasting, such as gaer or singhada lapsi (made from waterchestnut flour), fruits, and dried fruits are consumed on this day.[29]
Maharashtra
Main article: Dahi Handi
Janmashtami (popularly known as “Dahi Handii” in Maharashtra) is celebrated in cities such as Mumbai, Latur, Nagpur and Pune.[6] It is a celebration of joy and facilitator of social oneness.[6] Dahi Handi is an enactment of how Krishna, during his childhood, would steal butter.[30] This story is the theme of numerous reliefs on Hindu temples across India, as well as literature and dance-drama repertoire, symbolizing the joyful innocence of children, that love and life’s play is the manifestation of god.[31][32]
It is common practice for youth groups to celebrate the festival by participating in Dahi Handi, which involves hanging a clay pot, filled with buttermilk, at a significant height.[6] Once hung, several youth groups compete to reach the pot by creating a human pyramid and breaking it open.[6][30][33][34] The spilled contents are considered as prasada (celebratory offering). It is a public spectacle, cheered and welcomed as a community event.[24][35]
Gujarat and Rajasthan
In Dwarka, Gujarat – where Krishna is believed to have established his kingdom – people celebrate the festival with a tradition similar to Dahi Handi, called Makhan Handi (pot with freshly churned butter). Others perform folk dances such and garba and raas, sing bhajans, and visit Krishna temples such as at the Dwarkadhish Temple or Nathdwara. In the Kutch district region, farmers decorate their bullock carts and take out Krishna processions, with group singing and dancing.[36]
The works of Gujarati poets, Narsinh Mehta (1414-80 c.e.), Dayaram (1777-1852) and Rajasthani poet Mirabai (c.1500), are popularly revisited and sung during Janmashtami. Their works are categorized as part of the bhakti tradition, or devotional poetry dedicated to Krishna.[37][7]
South India
In Kerala, people celebrate in September, according to the Malayalam calendar.
In Tamil Nadu, people decorate the floor with kolams (decorative pattern drawn with rice batter). Geetha Govindam and other such devotional songs are sung in praise of Krishna. Little footprints, representing Krishna as an infant, are drawn from the threshold of the house till the pooja (prayer) room, which depicts the arrival of Krishna into the house.[38] Reciting from the Bhagavad Gita is also a popular practice. The offerings made to Krishna include fruits, betel and butter. Milk-based items, such as sweet seedai and verkadalai urundai, are prepared.[39] The festival is celebrated in the evening as Krishna was born at midnight. Most people observe a strict fast on this day.[39]
In Andhra Pradesh, recitation of shlokas and devotional songs are the characteristics of this festival. Another unique feature of this festival is that young boys are dress up as Krishna and they visit neighbours and friends. The people of Andhra Pradesh observe a fast too. Various kinds of sweets such as chakodi, murukku, and seedai are offered to Krishna on this day.[39] Joyful chanting of Krishna’s name takes place in quite a few temples of the state. The number of temples dedicated to Krishna are few. The reason being that people have taken to worship him through paintings and not idols.[citation needed]
Popular south Indian temples dedicated to Krishna are Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannargudi in the Tiruvarur district, Pandavadhoothar temple in Kanchipuram, Sri Krishna temple at Udupi, and the Krishna temple at Guruvayur are dedicated to the memory of Vishnu’s incarnation as Krishna. It is believed that the murti (idol) of Krishna installed in Guruvayur is originally from his kingdom in Dwarka – which is believed to be submerged in the sea.[40]
Eastern and Northeastern India
Janmashtami is widely celebrated by Hindu Vaishnava communities of eastern and northeastern India. The widespread tradition of celebrating Krishna in these regions is credited to the efforts and teachings of 15th and 16th century Sankardeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sankardeva introduced the musical composition, Borgeet, and dance-drama styles – Ankia Naat[41] and Sattriya – that is now popular in West Bengal and Assam. In Manipur state, a traditional dance – Raas Leela – inspired by the theme of love and devotion between Krishna, Radha and the gopis, is enacted using the Manipuri dance style.[42][43][44][45] The contextual roots of these dance drama arts are found in the ancient Hindu text Natya Shastra, but with influences from the culture fusion between India and southeast Asia.[46][47][48]
On Janmashtami, parents dress up their children as Krishna or the gopis. Temples and community centers are decorated with regional flowers and leaves, while groups recite or listen to the tenth chapter of the Bhagavata Purana, and the Bhagavata Gita.[24]
Janmashtami is a major festival celebrated with fasts, vigil, recitation of scriptures and Krishna prayers in Manipur.[49] Dancers performing Raslila are a notable annual tradition during Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan.[50] Children play the Likol Sannaba game in the Meetei Vaishnava community.[51]
The Shree Govindajee Temple and the ISKCON temples particularly mark the Janmashtami festival.[52] Janmashtami is celebrated in Assam at homes, in community centers called Namghars (Assamese: নামঘৰ). According to the tradition, the devotees sing the Nam, perform pujas and sharing food and Prasada.[52]
Odisha and West Bengal
In the eastern state of Odisha, specifically the region around Puri and in Nabadwip, West Bengal, the festival is also referred to as Sri Krishna Jayanti or simply Sri Jayanti.[53][54] People celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and worship until midnight. The Bhagavata Purana is recited from the 10th chapter, a section dedicated to the life of Krishna. The next day is called “Nanda Ucchhaba” or the joyous celebration of Krishna’s foster parents Nanda and Yashoda. Devotees keep fasting during the entire day of Janmashtami. They bring water from Ganga to bathe Radha Madhaba during their abhisheka ceremony. A grand abhisheka is performed at midnight for the small Radha Madha. In Odisha, the Jagannath Temple in Puri, best known for its grand Ratha Yatra celebrations, perform a Ratha Yatra during Janmashtami.[55]
Outside India
Nepal
About eighty percent of the population of Nepal identify themselves as Hindus and celebrate Krishna Janmashtami. They observe Janmashtami by fasting until midnight. It is a national holiday in Nepal.[56] The devotees recite the Bhagavad Gita and sing religious songs called bhajans and kirtans. The temples of Krishna are decorated. Shops, posters and houses carry Krishna motifs.[57]
Bangladesh
Janmashtami is a national holiday in Bangladesh.[58] On Janmashtami, a procession starts from Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, the National Temple of Bangladesh, and then proceeds through the streets of Old Dhaka. The procession dates back to 1902, but was stopped in 1948. The procession was resumed in 1989.[59]
Fiji
At least a quarter of the population in Fiji practices Hinduism, and this holiday has been celebrated in Fiji since the first Indian indentured laborers landed there. Janmashtami in Fiji is known as “Krishna Ashtami”. Most Hindus in Fiji have ancestors that originated from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu, making this an especially important festival for them. Fiji’s Janmashtami celebrations are unique in that they last for eight days, leading up to the eighth day, the day Krishna was born. During these eight days, Hindus gather at homes and at temples with their ‘mandalis,’ or devotional groups at evenings and night, and recite the Bhagavat Purana, sing devotional songs for Krishna, and distribute Prasadam.[60]
Pakistan
Janmashtami is celebrated by Pakistani Hindus in the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi with the singing of bhajans and delivering of sermons on Krishna.[61] It is an optional holiday in Pakistan.
Réunion
Among the Malbars of the French island Réunion, a syncretism of Catholicism and Hinduism can develop. Janmashtami is considered to be the date of birth of Jesus Christ.[62]
Mauritius
60% of the population is of Indian origins from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the majority of which more than 80% being hindus. This has been reinforced by Gujrati, Sindhi traders plus now with foreign IT consultants from India and workers from Sri Lanka. Krishna has been revered here since the 18th century by those indentured labourers of different castes who identified themselves as Jahazi bhais. They celebrate the festival with kirtans, and sweets. Dramas, plays, and kirtans illustrating the life of Krishna are played on television.[citation needed]
Others
In Arizona, United States, Governor Janet Napolitano was the first American leader to greet a message on Janmashtami, while acknowledging ISKCON.[63] The festival is also celebrated widely by Hindus in the Caribbean countries of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Suriname. Many Hindus in these countries originate from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar; descendants of indentured immigrants from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa.
ISKCON temples worldwide celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, as well the birthday of ISKCON founder-acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, which falls on the following day according to the Vaishnava calendar.
