Paris [France], Aug 24 : On the occasion of Janmashtami, Lord Krishna devotees came together in ISKON temple located in Paris to celebrate the festival along with people from various nationalities.
The festival, which marks the birthday of Lord Krishna, is being celebrated throughout the country with devotion and veneration.
In Paris ISKON temple, devotees celebrated Janmasthami by cutting a cake besides bathing idols of Lord Krishna and Radha amidst chanting of prayers.
While many devotees attended the function including people from different nationalities, temple priest Ram Bhadra Das said, "ISKON welcomes everyone and there is no distinction. Many people from France, Mauritius and other counties come and celebrate. Many states of India are also represented here."
As a part of the celebration, the French theatre also staged a play highlighting tales of Krishna.
An Algerian devotee of Lord Krishna, Goravbhakta Das, was seen singing Algerian song in the theatre.
"I am from Algeria. I am from Burbure community and I was singing a very old song explaining about life in the mountains. There is a meng and philosophy behind the song which says that the bad never wins over the good. Janmashtami is great and Krishna is beautiful. You forget about the material world," he told here.
Many Indian origin devotees participated in the celebration by singing bhajans.
Indian devotee Neelam R said that celebrating Janmashtami in Paris is like experiencing the festival celebration in Vrindavan.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated in a grand manner to cherish the good deeds of Lord Krishna for a happy and prosperous life.
Devotees, especially women, spend the night chanting prayers and devotional songs, dancing and lighting oil-fed lamps.
Various religious orgsations and institutions celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna by orgsing colourful processions with the idols of Lord Krishna flanked by decorative portraits.
( With inputs from ANI )