MATHURA, INDIA, September 3, 2007: With just one day left for Janamashtami, the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the city considered to be His birthplace is teeming with His devotees. As Mathura prepares for a huge influx of tourists, an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 on Janamashtami, the hustle and bustle in markets and temples has already started, with many thronging the holy city of Mathura, popular among Krishna’s devotees across the globe as his birthplace, is also famous for being the place to shop for costumes for Gods and religious ornaments. “In the entire world from Java and Sumatra to Chicago and Los Angeles, wherever there are Krishna devotees, the clothes and ornaments worn by Deities in temples go from Mathura,” said Kapil Kanhaiya, a shop-owner.
Security has been beefed up with seven companies of paramilitary forces being deployed during the festival, Mathura’s SSP Ram Krishna Chaturvedi said. Krishna Jananambhoomi temple, from where live telecasts are made on Janamashtami, is being decked up with lights. Rajiv Shrivastav, a member of the temple’s trust, is busy looking after preparations like the construction of temporary sheds for devotees. “During the festival season, 1.5 to 2 million devotees come for darshan over three days and everyone gets free food,” he said. “We prepare food round the clock, but on Janamashtami, to handle the rush, we inspire people to put up free food stalls across the city. Free food is available throughout the day at around 100 to 150 stalls in the entire city,” Srivastav said.