Janmashtami is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. This year, the festival falls on 26th August 2024. Devotees celebrate it by visiting temples and fasting. Communities also organise lively programmes with dance performances to honour Radha Krishna’s Ras Leela. One of the highlights is the Dahi-Haldi tradition, where people form human pyramids to reach and break a pot filled with dahi and butter. Offering butter (Butter) is a very dear tradition to Lord Krishna. But why is it so important? Let’s delve into the stories behind Krishna’s love for butter.
This is the reason why Lord Krishna loves butter:
1. From a community of cow herders
Lord Krishna grew up in the care of Nand Baba, the chief cowherd, and his wife, Yashoda. Surrounded by cows and immersed in a community that thrives on milk and its products, Krishna’s affection for butter reflects its deep roots in this society of cowherds.
Read also: Janmashtami 2024: 5 Bhog recipes to liven up the festival
2. The Belovedbutter Choir
As a child, Krishna earned the nickname “butter Chor, or the butter thief. He loved to steal butter and yogurtnot only from his own house, but also from his neighbours in Gokul. While this behaviour often provoked complaints from the gopis to Yashoda, Krishna’s charm ensured that despite his thieving ways, he won the hearts of everyone.
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3. Made with love
Krishna’s love for butter was so deep that his mother Yashoda, his beloved Radha and the gopis would churn butter especially for him and feed it to him with their own hands. Seeing Krishna taste this lovingly made butter filled their hearts with immense joy.
Read also: Made with love: how food can become a means to bring people together
4. Spread joy
Krishna’s antics with butter, whether devouring it from a jar or “stealing” it from neighbours, are full of joy and affection. These charming tales remind us that children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood freely and without undue stress or restrictions.
Do you want to make white butter at home for Janmashtami 2024? Here it is A simple recipe.
Note: This article explores themes and stories from Hindu mythology for informational and educational purposes. While an effort has been made to present the material accurately, interpretations of mythological texts may vary.
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