(Image source from: DNA India)

The ISKON temple in Paris reverberated with Lord Krishna’s chants on Friday on the occasion of Janmashtami, that marks the birth of the eighth avatar of god Vishnu.

Besides offering religious prayers to Lord Krishna, the devotees celebrated the day by cutting a cake. The event was attended by people from different nationalities, including Indian origin devotees, who marked the day by intoning bhajans.

Talking about the event, the temple priest Ram Bhadra Das said: "ISKON welcomes everyone and there is no distinction. Many people from France, Mauritius, and other counties come and celebrate. Many states of India are also represented here."

The French theatre also staged a play bringing to the fore tales of Lord Krishna, as a part of the celebration. Goravbhakta Das, an Algerian devotee of Lord Krishna was seen singing Algerian song in the theatre.

"I am from Algeria. I am from Burbure community and I was singing a very old song explaining about life in the mountains. There are meaning and philosophy behind the song which says that the bad never wins over the good. Janmashtami is great and Krishna is beautiful. You forget about the material world," he told ANI here.

Indian devotee Neelam Rani said that “celebrating Janmashtami in Paris is like experiencing the festival celebration in Vrindavan.”

Shri Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami is celebrated predominantly by Hindus across the world to cherish the good deeds of Lord Krishna for a happy and prosperous life. Devotees will be seen spending the night chanting prayers and devotional songs, dancing and lighting oil-fed lamps.

                       (Image source from: DNA India)

Various religious institutions and organizations celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna by organizing colorful processions with the idols of Lord Krishna flanked by decorative portraits.

By Sowmya Sangam