Keralites celebrated the festival of Janmashtami on August 21. The festival was celebrated with great fervor and devotion.

KERALITES CELEBRATED the festival of Janmashtami on August 21. The festival was celebrated with great fervor and devotion by organizing processions with float parades depicting Lord Krishna's life. Also children participated in the processions dressed up as Bal Krishnas and Gopikas.

On the occasion of Janmashtami in Kerala, huge crowds of devotees visited Sree Padmanabhaswamy and Sree Krishna temples.

Due to differences in regional calendars the festival is being celebrated on different dates in various parts of the country.

While Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and eastern parts of the country celebrated the festival on August 21, it will be celebrated in North India today.

Another highlight of the festival was holding 'Uriyadi' - the games symbolizing young Krishna's pranks and mischieves he played on the people. Now, Uriyadi has become a cultural sport, where small groups of young lads compete with each other. Uriyadi event at Vadayattukotta and Kottamkulangara Temples in Vilakkeduppu are spectacular and attract a lot of participants and on-lookers.

Hindus across the country celebrate Janmashtami as birthday of Lord Krishna. Devotees observe fast on this day which is followed by pooja at midnight; Lord Krishna is believed to be born at the conjunction point of day and night.