Click through the slideshow to look at photos from this year's Janmashtami celebrations:

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  • Devotees form a human pyramid to break the "Dahi handi," an earthen pot filled with curd, an integral part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

  • Devotees form a human pyramid to break the "Dahi handi," an earthen pot filled with curd, an integral part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

  • Devotees form a human pyramid to break the "Dahi handi," an earthen pot filled with curd, as part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

  • Indian children dressed as Hindu God Lor

    Indian children dressed as Hindu God Lord Krishna sip cold drinks after celebrating pre-Janamashtmi festivities at a police camp in Amritsar on August 9,2012, on the eve of the 'Janmashtami' festival. The Janmashtami festival, which falls on August 10 this year, marks the birth of the Hindu god Lord Krishna. AFP PHOTO/ NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Indian schoolchildren dressed as Hindu G

    Indian schoolchildren dressed as Hindu God Lord Krishna pose at a school in Amritsar on August 9, 2012 on the eve of the 'Janmashtami' festival. The Janmashtami festival, which falls on August 10 this year, marks the birth of the Hindu god Lord Krishna. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Indian visually impaired children take p

    Indian visually impaired children take part in celebrations on the eve of 'Janmashtami', which marks the birth of Hindu God Lord Krishna by breaking a dahi-handi, curd-pot suspended in the air, at the Victoria School for the Blind in Mumbai on August 9, 2012 . Hindu men and boys receive prize money by constructing a human pyramid till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • An Indian visually impaired student take

    An Indian visually impaired student takes part in celebrations on the eve of 'Janmashtami', which marks the birth of Hindu God Lord Krishna, by breaking a dahi-handi, curd-pot suspended in the air at the Victoria School for the Blind in Mumbai on August 9, 2012 . Hindu men and boys receive prize money by constructing a human pyramid till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • A young Indian child dressed as Hindu Lord Krishna eats curd as he participates in a procession ahead of Janmashtami festival in Jammu, India, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami, which falls on Aug. 10, marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

  • An Indian man carries a young child dressed as Hindu Lord Krishna in a basket during a procession ahead of Janmashtami festival in Jammu, India, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami, which falls on Aug. 10, marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

  • A Nepalese woman watches from a temple while she offers prayers during Janmashtami festival in, Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami festival marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

  • An Indian student, dressed as Hindu God Krishna attempts to break an earthern pot containing curd, as others cheer as part of celebrations ahead of Janmashtami festival at a school, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami, which falls on Aug. 10, marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

  • Nepalese children dressed as Hindu Lord Krishna and Radha smile during Janmashtami festival in, Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami festival marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

  • Hindu priests wait to give blessings to devotees near Hindu Lord Krishna temple during Janmashtami festival in, Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Janmashtami festival marks the birthday of Hindu god Krishna. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

  • An Indian women dances during Janmashtami festival celebrations in Mathura, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

  • A young Indian girl applies makeup to another girl before a performance during Janmashtami festival celebrations in Mathura, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

  • Indian Hindu women devotees talk during Janmashtami festival celebrations at a temple in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • An Indian Hindu devotee worships a cow outside Lord Krishna temple during Janmashtami festival celebrations in Mathura, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

  • A young Indian girl in traditional dress dances during the Janmashtami festival celebrations at a temple in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • Indian school children in traditional dresses carry earthen pots as they wait backstage for their performance to begin during the Janmashtami festival celebrations in Kolkata, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

  • An Indian boy, on top of a human pyramid, tries to reach the Â"Dahi Handi,Â" an earthen pot filled with curd, an integral part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami festival in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

  • Young Indian girls in traditional dresses share a laugh during the Janmashtami festival celebrations at a temple in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • Indian children dressed as Hindu God Krishna, right, and Goddess Radha give blessings to a young child during the Janmashtami festival celebrations at a temple in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Janmashtami is the festival that marks the birth of Hindu God Krishna. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • Indian Hindu devotees pay their respects

    Indian Hindu devotees pay their respects to the idol of Hindu God, Lord Krishna, by pouring milk water on it during the Janmashtami festival at the Shivala temple in Amritsar on August 10, 2012. Janmasthami, the birth day of Lord Krishna is the largest and most important festival for devotees of Krishna. AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Indian Hindu devotees pray in front of a

    Indian Hindu devotees pray in front of a Lord Krishna statue at Laxmi Narayan temple during the 'Janmashtami' Festival in New Delhi on August 10, 2012. Janmasthami, the birth day of Lord Krishna is the largest and most important festival for devotees of Krishna. AFP PHOTO/ RAVEENDRAN (Photo credit should read RAVEENDRAN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Young Indian Hindu devotees dressed as the Hindu God Lord Krishna (L) and his consort 'Radha' (R) dance during a fancy dress competition held at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Bangalore on August 9, 2012 on the eve of 'Krishna Janmashtami'. The Janmashtami falls on August 10 this year, marking the birth of the Hindu God Lord Krishna. AFP PHOTO/ Manjunath KIRAN

  • An Indian vendor sells figurines of the Hindu God Lord Krishna at a stall at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Bangalore on August 9, 2012 on the eve of 'Krishna Janmashtami'. The Janmashtami falls on August 10 this year, marking the birth of the Hindu God Lord Krishna. AFP PHOTO/ Manjunath KIRAN

  • An Indian toddler dressed as Hindu God Lord Krishna holds his parent's hands while arriving at a fancy dress competition held at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Bangalore on August 9, 2012 on the eve of 'Krishna Janmashtami'. The Janmashtami falls on August 10 this year, marking the birth of the Hindu God Lord Krishna. AFP PHOTO/ Manjunath KIRAN

Hindus around the world are observing Janmashtami, a holy day that celebrates the birth of Krishna, who is believed by devotees to be the eighth avatar of Vishnu (the Hindu deity of cosmic maintenance) and the Supreme Lord of the Universe.

Krishna is the teacher in the Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse scripture set on a battlefield that contains some of the most important teachings of Hinduism. He is often depicted in the form of a dark-skinned young boy playing a flute, wearing a peacock feather crown and yellow garments.

Krishna, whose name is often translated as “all-attractive,†is honored and worshiped in many ways. To his devotees, he is not only the Supreme Lord and a wise teacher, but also a dear friend, beloved child, and a handsome lover.

According to Hindu teachings, Krishna was born at midnight on the ashtami or the 8th day of the Hindu lunar month of Shravan in a prison to Vasudev and Devaki in the town of Mathura. Moments after his birth he escaped to the village of Gokul, where Krishna was raised by Nanda and Yasoda, his foster parents. The stories of Krishna’s childhood and youth paint the picture of a mischievous and endearing flute-playing cowherd who loved to play pranks on everyone and flirt with the gopis (cowgirls).

Janmashtami is a festive occasion and celebrations on this day re-enact popular tales from Krishna’s childhood. Many devotees fast on this day and stay up all night worshiping, listening to stories about Krishna’s childhood and singing devotional songs. In Krishna temples across the world, a statue of the infant Krishna is bathed and placed in a cradle which is rocked by devotees amidst the chanting of devotional songs.

janmashtamiOne particularly popular Janmashtami tradition in India is dahi handi. In this observance, a clay pot filled with butter or curd is hung high on a rope while a human pyramid is formed underneath it. The person on the top tries to catch and break the pot with a blunt object. This tradition is based on popular Krishna narratives according to which he would steal butter, prepared by the women of the village and hung on handis. In fact, one of Krishna’s many names is maakhan chhor, meaning one who steals butter.

janmashtami On Janmashtami, many devotees also re-enact the scenes from Krishna’s Rasa Lila.

It is believed that one night when Krishna played the flute, all the gopis of the village were so entranced that they left their houses and families to come and dance with him in the forest for the entire night. In bhakti or devotional paths of Hinduism, the supreme form of devotion is understood to be the soul’s ecstatic love for Krishna, who is believed to be the Supreme Lord. On Janmashtami, young boys and girls dress up as Krishna and his gopi lovers, and in this spirit of devotion, perform Rasa Lila.

Have you been to a Janmashtami celebration in your local temple? Share your experience with us in the comments section.

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