Janmashtami fervour pours out of 'matkis' across Ahmedabad

People of Ahmedabad are still recovering from the hangover of Janmashtami celebrations on Monday (August 22). After a day spent savouring delicacies and watching or participating in 'matki phod' late in the evening - for many, the most important event of Janmashtami - people waited till midnight to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

A resident of Gyanda society, RN Mehta, said 'matki phod' at his society was carried out with certain changes in view of the current times. "Instead of maakhan (butter), we had filled the matki (earthen pot) with wrapped chocolate. Children were thrilled by the shower of chocolates that hit them after the matki was broken," he said.

Mehta said that around 20-22 boys of the society enthusiastically participated in the event. "They had prepared the matki themselves and hung it at a good height. They formed a human pyramid and broke late in the evening. This was followed by a dance programme," he said.

In Shyamkunj society, a resident, Saurabh Modi, said that every year, the theme for Janmashtami and matki phod changes. "This time, we had flowers and painted pots as the theme. Around 10-12 people from the society participated in the event," he said.

Celebrations were also held at various temples across the city and people participated in midnight prayers and dance. For instance, Paramdham, a temple on Satellite road, had more than 100 devotees by the time the clock struck midnight. Lights were switched off and the temple was lit with candles. Lord Krishna was welcomed with flowers, sweets, and diyas, and, of course, prayers and people dancing to Krishna dhun.