<p>Amid blowing of conch shells and chants of vedic hymns, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples which wore a festive look.<br /><br />In Mumbai, youngsters went around the city in processions and broke 'dahi handi' (pot filled with butter or curd and tied to a rope as high as 40-ft).<br /><br />The faithful formed pyramids at various places to reach the handi as those gathered attempted to thwart their efforts by splashing water on them.<br /><br />Devotees observed day-long fasts as special delicacies for the occasion remained an attraction.<br /><br />Amid tight security, over ten lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at temples in Mathura where the deity is believed to have been born.<br /><br />"The celebrations started this morning after bathing Krishna ji with water from the Yamuna. A special Abhishek (bathing the deity) was performed amid chanting of Vedic hymns, beating of drums and playing of musical instruments," said Dinesh Chandra Goswami, a priest at the Radha Raman temple.<br /><br />Janmashtami was also celebrated in temples of nearby towns of Vrindavan, Baldeo and Goverdhan.<br /><br />In Jammu and Kashmir, long-winding queues were seen outside lit-up temples as fervour marked the festivities.<br /><br />Raghunath rath yatras, some with tableaux depicting various aspects of the life of Lord Krishna, were also taken out in various parts of Jammu in which hundreds participated.</p>
<p>Amid blowing of conch shells and chants of vedic hymns, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples which wore a festive look.<br /><br />In Mumbai, youngsters went around the city in processions and broke 'dahi handi' (pot filled with butter or curd and tied to a rope as high as 40-ft).<br /><br />The faithful formed pyramids at various places to reach the handi as those gathered attempted to thwart their efforts by splashing water on them.<br /><br />Devotees observed day-long fasts as special delicacies for the occasion remained an attraction.<br /><br />Amid tight security, over ten lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at temples in Mathura where the deity is believed to have been born.<br /><br />"The celebrations started this morning after bathing Krishna ji with water from the Yamuna. A special Abhishek (bathing the deity) was performed amid chanting of Vedic hymns, beating of drums and playing of musical instruments," said Dinesh Chandra Goswami, a priest at the Radha Raman temple.<br /><br />Janmashtami was also celebrated in temples of nearby towns of Vrindavan, Baldeo and Goverdhan.<br /><br />In Jammu and Kashmir, long-winding queues were seen outside lit-up temples as fervour marked the festivities.<br /><br />Raghunath rath yatras, some with tableaux depicting various aspects of the life of Lord Krishna, were also taken out in various parts of Jammu in which hundreds participated.</p>