Why Is This Offering So Special on Krishna Janmashtami?

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini and Krishna Jayanti, is being celebrated this year on the 4th of this month. Devotees observe the festival with special prayers and offerings at temples and homes. Along with celebrations associated with child Krishna, the Chhappan Bhog, a grand offering of 56 food items, is a major attraction during Janmashtami celebrations in North India.

According to mythology, Krishna advised the people of Braj to worship Govardhan Hill instead of Indra. Angered by this, Indra is believed to have unleashed heavy rains over Braj. To protect the people, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill with his little finger and held it like an umbrella for seven days and seven nights. It is believed that Krishna normally had eight meals a day but could not eat for those seven days. The people of Braj therefore prepared 56 varieties of food to make up for the 56 missed meals and offered them to Krishna after the rains stopped, giving rise to the tradition of Chhappan Bhog.

The dishes included in Chhappan Bhog vary according to regional and temple traditions. Sweets such as laddoos, pedas, jalebi, rabri and makhan-mishri, along with milk-based dishes, puris, kachoris, rice, dal, vegetables, fruits, dry fruits, chutneys and pickles are commonly offered. However, devotees believe that the number of dishes is less important than devotion and sincerity. As expressed in the Bhagavad Gita through “Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam,” even a simple offering of a leaf, flower, fruit or water made with devotion is considered dear to Krishna.