Thiruvananthapuram

Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan and other leaders on Friday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Ashtami Rohini.

Also known as Krishna Janmashtami or Sreekrishna Jayanthi, the festival commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna and is observed on the eighth lunar day (Ashtami Tithi) under the Rohini star (Rohini Nakshatra).

Satheesan shared a picture of infant Krishna on his Facebook page and extended his greetings to the people.

State Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph, in a Facebook post, said the festival carried a message of love and peace and extended his heartfelt greetings.

Higher Education Minister Roji M John said Krishna, who was born in prison during the reign of his maternal uncle Kamsa and is revered by the people of Ambadi, symbolised the triumph of dharma over adharma.

Every Ashtami Rohini reminds us of Lord Krishna, who appeared as the light of dharma, dispelling the darkness of adharma, he said.

Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said Ashtami Rohini was a reminder that the light of dharma must fill human hearts whenever the darkness of adharma spreads.

"Krishna is not merely a divine concept in Keralam's cultural consciousness," he said, pointing to the varied portrayals of Krishna in the works of great poets, including Poonthanam and Vallathol.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, in a Facebook post, hoped the festival would convey a message of a society filled with love, happiness and equality.

He said the messages conveyed through the concept of Lord Krishna were timeless and expressed hope that people would draw courage to face challenges, a sense of duty and confidence to stand for what is good.

He said Krishna Jayanthi should inspire people to stand against injustice and adharma, extend support to those suffering and strengthen love and brotherhood among people.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Lord Krishna's teachings on dharma, courage and justice should continue to guide and inspire people.

"May this Janmashtami bring peace, happiness and prosperity to every family," he said.

Special pujas were held at Krishna temples across the state, including the Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple, which witnessed a heavy rush of devotees.

Elaborate arrangements were made to serve the Ashtami Rohini Sadya, a community feast, at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple to mark the occasion.

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Temple sources said the feast, considered sacred by devotees, would be served to at least 25,000 people.

Police and volunteers made arrangements for the smooth conduct of shobha yatras (devotional processions) scheduled later in the day across the state.