Janmasthami

Hindus across India and other nations are celebrating Janmasthami, Krishna's birthday.

Krishna was the 8th avatar of Hindu God Vishnu. He was born in a dungeons in Kamas's palace in Mathura. Kamas was his uncle. He was the seventh son of Devaki (Kamas' cousin) and Vasudeva. His older brothers was born in the dungeons, but sadly every time each of the sons were born, Kamas hit their heads and they were killed. Why? Because when Kamas was taking to his cousin to her family-in-law's house after a wedding, he heard a voice saying that the seventh son of Devaki will be born and he will destroy him, expect the sixth one (Balarama) was he was transported to another womb. Kamas became furious and was about to chopped her head, when her husband pleaded him and told him that he will give every single child. Kamas threw them to the angel.

When Krishna was born, his father put him on a basket and went out of the palace. While he was walking, he was followed by a giant combra. He arrived at Vrindavan and put Krishna on a bed and took a woman's baby girl. Balarama was in the same village.

Vasudeva returned with a baby girl. Kamas went to the dungeon. Vasudeva told him that how can a baby girl can harm a mighty king, but Kamas wasn't listening and was about to kill her. When a baby girl slipped from his hand and turned into Goddess Durga. She told him that he was born in last night and safe in Vrindavan and when the time will come, he will find him and punish all the evil things he has done.

Krishna was raised by Mother Yashoda and Father Nanda. He loved to steal butter from the neighbours. He killed the demons disguised as human or an animal, send by Kamas. Krishna even once danced on a giant serpent's forehead as they were polluting the Yammuna river. The serpent swam away. Krishna even once lifted Govardhan hill with his one finger and everyone went inside.

When he was older, he and Balarama went to their birth place requested by their uncles, that they are to be thrown in the arena. Kamas finally meet his angel of death and he physically tried to kill him, but Krishna killed him by punching him hard.

This one remind me of Jesus. Jesus was almost killed by a king named Harold as he heard that they will be a new king, foretold by the stars. He ordered a newborn male child to be killed. His mother Mary and his father Joseph went to Bethlehem. His parents tried to find a room, but there was no inn, so they were forced to settle in a stable, where animals like the cattle and the sheep lived. Jesus was born in a manager. Jesus performed many miracles

I will write Jesus's birth story on Christmas Eve, on Christmas' series.

Questions

What does the word avatar mean?

Why do Hindus show their devotion to Krishna?

How do they celebrate it?