Janmashtami: A Festival for Krishna and the Earth

Every year, millions of Hindus around the world celebrate Janmashtami, the joyous festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. Temples overflow with devotion, streets light up with colourful tableaux, and the air fills with music and chanting. Yet, amid the devotional fervour, another dimension of Krishna’s message often goes unnoticed—his deep and abiding love for the natural world.

Krishna’s life, as told in the Bhagavata Purana and Mahabharata, is a celebration of nature itself. As a young cowherd in Vrindavan, he tended cows and calves with affection, played along the banks of the Yamuna, and roamed lush forests alive with birds and animals. Even his miracles—like lifting Govardhan Hill to protect villagers from torrential rain—underscore a profound truth: nature is sacred, and protecting it is part of our duty (dharma).

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