There are grand rituals carried out temples with celebrations that symbolises Lord Krishna’s arrival into this world. People also offer puja at home at midnight of Janmashtami with great devotion. Here are the steps to follow for offering puja at home:
Steps
Select a clean place for conducting the puja. A Puja Ghar is an ideal place to perform it. If not, select a place which has a calm environment.
Place a puja ‘Chowki’ and cover it with red cloth .
Place a Tulsi pan and place Lord Krishna’s idol in ‘Baal Swaroop’ or photograph over it.
Light a dhoop stick to cleanse the environment and pray to Baal Gopal before beginning the puja.
Now place Krishna idol on a plate and bathe him with ‘Panchamrut’ cleanse with water. Follow these steps three times while chanting ’Om Namo Vasudevaya Namah’.
Clean him with a clean white cloth. Adorn him with new clothes and Alankaar.
Place him back on ‘Aasan’ or ‘Jhula’ on the Chowki.
Light a ghee diya with incense. Put Tilak and Ashtagandh along with chandan on Baal Gopal’s forehead. Offer garland and place flowers at his feet.
Offer Bhog – Mishri and Makkhan with other sweets along with Tulsi leaves.
Meditate and chant ‘Om Namo Vasudevaya Namah’. One can also sing bhajans and kirtan.
At a stroke of midnight, swing Baal Gopal’s jhula to welcome him in this world.
An elaborate puja is performed at temples that include Guru Vandana and Puja, Gau Puja, Krishna Abhishek, Sringaar, Ganesh Puja, Navagraha Puja, Aavahan and Havan, Chanting Krishna Mantra, Purnahuti, Deep Daan and offering Bhog Prasadam.
