I had just stepped into my teens when my grandmother suggested I should start praying to and fasting for Lord Shiv every Monday.
To get a husband like him in the future was my grandmother’s explanation. I listened to her and did start, partly out of respect, and mostly because of the delicious food that we broke our fast with. My half-hearted attempts at Monday fasts didn’t last long, though, for by then I had discovered The Blue One, Lord Krishna.
As a teenager, I thought The Blue One was super cool. The stories of his valour as a child and his charm and quick thinking in getting his way as an adult were impressive. He loved dressing up, and that jaunty peacock feather showed he had style. He was a graceful dancer, had that impish streak and tons of female friends.
As I grew up and read more about Krishna, I loved the fact that he was a Sakha (friend) to Draupadi. BFF, all the way back then! She confided in him, he gave her apt advice, and he was there for her, as a friend should be.
Krishnashthami, or Janmashtami, meant we could dress up to the nines, stay up all night with the adults, watching films, gossiping and feasting as we rocked his cradle and sang hymns in his ode.
There were no hard and fast rules and regulations to worship The Blue One either. More importantly, the delicacies offered to him in prayer were scrumptious! Mahkane ki Kheer, Dhaniya Panjiri, Sabudana Khichdi, Singhade ki Puri, Aloo Ka Halwa, Dahiwale Aloo. The feast Mom cooked up makes me salivate just thinking about it!
As a devotee, I have always considered The Blue One as my confidante, someone I can talk to about everything on my mind. My prayers to him are akin to a tete-a-tete with a best friend.
In our family, The Blue One not only resides in the temple at home, but also in our hearts. He is the God we worship, a friend in need and a mentor who guides us. We love to dress him up in custom-made, hand-sewn clothes and handcrafted jewellery and accessories, to pamper him and celebrate him.
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Wah, so the blue one found you his namesake then! Excellent.
Thank you, Lavs 🙂
Lovely post about your memories related to the festival. Wish you a very happy Janmashtami.
Happy Janmashtami to you too, Deepa.
The Blue One is everyone’s favourite. Very well written post I liked the title Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Sachin.
Ah! The blue one finally made it to your home in flesh. Brilliant 🙂
Thank you for reading, Shree Janani.
Grandma’s Monday fasts helped im making you marry the other ‘blue’ God. Shiv is Neel too. 🙂
Happy Janmashtami, Mayuri. Home today or not, I’m sure your Mother will treat you with all your favourite delicacies when you visit.
Hahahahaa, true that, Varsha. Thanks for reading:)
He is loved by one and all and often as a young girl we are told stories about how he is the perfect one ans fasting in his name ensures we get a man as good as him. Small traditions and stories that fill our lives with joy and hope.
So true, Ramya.
My mom and now my husband like you are devotees of Lord Krishna too. Glad that Sri Krishna entered your like forever <3 🙂
Thanks for reading, Roma:)
What a sweet read on the day of Krishnashthami when I am also thinking about the Blue one who is perfect in all factors! I also did those fasts during my college time and when I found that my husband smokes, I thought how I missed this, shiv Ji also smokes ☺. I only wanted a husband like him!! Great that you found your own Krishna. #vibhuandme #myfriendalexa
What a coincidence about your husband being a smoker. So your prayers were answered after all!:) Thanks for reading, Shipra.
beating the monday blues with this beautiful post. lovely read mayuri. I liked the flow and your way of introducing krishna with some tale of yours..
Thanks for reading, and for your warm words, Deepa.
And all’s well that ends well. Quite a fancy and lovable ending. Happy Janmashtami!!
Hahahahaha, thank you:)
Such a nice tale and perfectly posted with amazing blue foundation
Thank you, Ruchi.
The divine blue connection! Such a lovely post giving us the glimpse of your life, as centered around the Blue One, Mayuri.
Thanks for reading, Anagha:)
What a lovely post to read on Janmashtami. The idols are super cute as well. Definitely, the blue one is the cynosure of eyes.
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Thank you, Rohan.
Happy Janamashtami dear. beautifully written post on my friend 😉
Thank you, Nidhi.
Mayuri, being a devotee of Lord Krishna, I loved reading your post. I connected with it in every paragraph. Much like you celebrate Janmashtami, we do too. The delicacies made on this day, dressing up and rocking him in the cradle are all similar and a wonderful part of the celebration. He truly is the Divine One. May you and your family be blessed always. Great article!
Dipali
(https://www.spoonsandsneakers.com/ )
Thanks for your warm words, Dipali. May we all be blessed always.
How fascinated you are with the blue one.
I am:)
Good old memories with the blue one! I loved the pics btw. But down in the south, we don’t celebrate Krishna Janamastmi much although a few do. It’s interesting to read the facts associated.
Haha, I love the way you have described lord Krishna, The Blue one. I haven’t tasted the delicacies you mentioned except sabudana khichdi. I hope I will get a chance to taste them.
The Blue One is the most charismatic hero since ages. Sabudana Khichdi is something that I like.
I thought the Blue one will be Lord Shiva, but then it turned out to be Kanha. An almighty as a friend is a nice feeling, isn’t it? Love the way you shared your feelings for him, as a friend.
krishna is the most lovable character, when he was child also when he was an adult