Ludhiana: From tiny crowns and colourful outfits for Bal Gopal to miniature swings, peacock feathers and matki-shaped cakes, Janmashtami has brought a festive buzz to Ludhiana. Temples are decked up for midnight celebrations and markets are crowded with shoppers ahead of the festival.Families are making preparations for celebrations at home. Special kirtans and other programmes have been lined up in temples and homes from Friday evening, culminating in the midnight celebrations.A day ahead of the festival, preparations were in full swing at several temples. Colourful lights, special floral decorations, popularly known as phool bangla, and decorative installations have been put up.Organisers at Govind Godham temple on Hambran Road said Janmashtami was one of the major festivals celebrated there and devotees looked forward to it throughout the year.“It is a major festival, and we celebrate it with great enthusiasm. Devotees will seek the blessings of Lord Krishna, and the temple will wear a festive look. A special kirtan will be held on the premises till midnight,” an organiser said.The festive mood has also reached households, with families preparing to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna in traditional style. Small swings and cradles for the deity are particularly in demand.Near Krishna Mandir in Model Town, shops selling Janmashtami items have come up on both sides of the road. The temporary stalls, however, have reduced the available road width, causing inconvenience to commuters.“People have started coming in large numbers to buy small swings, decorative items and clothes for Krishna. Parents are especially excited about dressing up their children as Bal Gopal,” said Mamta Sharma, a shopkeeper selling Janmashtami items.She said there was also a rush for colourful Krishna dresses, crowns, flutes and other accessories as children prepare to visit temples dressed as Radha and Krishna. Many families are also buying decorative pieces to create Krishna-themed displays or jhankis at home.“We have been preparing for Janmashtami for the past few days. We have bought a small swing and Krishna’s new dress and will decorate a jhanki at home. The children are very excited,” said devotee Sunita Gupta.At bakeries, the traditional matki cake, often decorated with a peacock feather, has emerged as one of the sought-after items ahead of the festival. Bakers are preparing cakes featuring matkis, flutes and other Krishna-themed designs, with customers placing advance orders.“Matki cakes are getting a very good response this year. Customers are asking for customised designs, and many have already booked cakes for Janmashtami celebrations,” said Nikhil Kumar, a bakery owner.Hoardings add to festive buzzThe scale of the celebrations is also visible on city streets, with Janmashtami-related hoardings and banners appearing at several locations. While some have been put up by temple committees and organisers of private events, politicians and parties are also expected to participate in celebrations and use the occasion to increase their public visibility.With the festival falling in an election year, the presence of politicians at temple events is likely to add a political dimension to the celebrations.
