MATHURA, India — Millions of devotees gathered at temples across India on Friday to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. The largest crowds converged on his traditional birthplace in Mathura and neighbouring Vrindavan.

The Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple in Mathura and the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan organised elaborate midnight rituals, floral decorations and abhishek ceremonies. Temple management committees arranged additional security and crowd-management measures to accommodate the surge of pilgrims expected through the night.

Similar observances took place at the Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat and ISKCON temples across major cities. Devotees fasted until midnight, the traditional hour of Krishna's birth, while bhajans, jhankis depicting scenes from Krishna's life, and offerings of butter and sweets featured prominently in the celebrations.

In Maharashtra, preparations for Dahi Handi festivities gathered pace, with govinda troupes forming human pyramids to break earthen pots of curd suspended high above streets. Municipal authorities in Mumbai and Thane issued safety advisories and height regulations for participating groups.

Uttar Pradesh police deployed additional personnel around the Mathura-Vrindavan belt to manage traffic and ensure orderly darshan for visiting pilgrims.