The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with divine faith, joy and colour all across the nation. The day is dedicated to the mischievous butter thief,
playful cowherd of Vrindavan, eternal flute charmer of Gokul and the intelligent tactician of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna. He is worshipped in his infant form, revered as Bal Gopal or Laddu Gopal. Devotees observe fasts, perform rituals like Dahi Handi, prepare Chappan Bhog, sing devotional songs and perform re-enactments from Lord Krishna’s life. However, Janmashtami is incomplete without decorating the homes with flowers, lights and setting up a jhaanki. People of all ages come together to decorate the jhaanki which becomes the centerpiece of the celebration. Here are some creative jhaanki ideas to add charm to your Janmashtami festivities.
Krishna-Vasudeva Jhaanki
This Jhaanki stands as a depiction of Lord Krishna’s divine arrival. It captures the moment when Vasudeva carries newborn Krishna across the River Yamuna under the protection of the serpent Sheshnaag. For this, you will need materials like a cardboard base, some blue fabric (dupatta or a saree), paint, decorative items and lights. Cover the base with blue fabric to represent the river Yamuna. Add the pre-made figures of Lord Krishna and Vasudeva. Alternatively, you can also sculpt these using paper mache. Add details like a snake symbolising Sheshnaag, a small basket, trees and huts on the side. For the final touch, decorate with some LED lights, fairy lights or simply with Diyas.
Makhan Chori Leela Jhaanki
This jhaanki perfectly captures the naughty and mischievous side of Lord Krishna. It depicts his act of stealing butter from the earthen pots in the Gokul kitchens. Easy to make, all you need for this jhaanki are some clay pots, some cotton, hanging matkis, small dolls or figures. On the base, place a clay pot filled with some cotton to represent the butter. On its side, add a small idol of Lord Krishna, with the mouth covered in butter. Add hanging pots to create a more realistic kitchen setting. Include small dolls or figures to represent the village gopis.
Govardhan Parvat Jhaanki
In one of his tales, Lord Krishna had lifted the Govardhan Parvat on his little finger to protect the villagers from Indra’s wrath. To create this jhaanki, cover the base with a green dupatta or a saree. For the mountain, you can use a thermocol or cardboard. Place an idol of Lord Krishna just below the mountain, and add small figurines of cows, animals and villagers next to it. You can add some small stones, plants, trees to give a more realistic appeal. The rain can be depicted using blue coloured tissue paper or cellophane strips hanging from above. Add some striking blue lighting to depict the thunder.
Murli Manohar Jhaanki
The melodious sound of Lord Krishna’s flute conquered the hearts of gopis and the villagers. This jhaanki depicts Lord Krishna in his cowherd form, playing the flute, herding the cows and sitting in the company of gopis. For this jhaanki, you can use a small grass mat or simply a thermocol painted in green. Add details like a small pond, a tree and some plants. In the centre place the idol of Lord Krishna and surround him with elements like figures of cows, peacocks and small dolls. Add a flute and some soft fairy lights to give it a divine appeal.
Mahabharata Yuddha Jhaanki
A tribute to Lord Krishna, the tactician, this Jhaanki depicts the moment from Mahabharata when Lord Krishna imparts the sacred wisdom of Gita to Arjuna as he faces a moral dilemma. Colour the base of the jhaanki in brown and paint a more rugged look to give an impression of the battlefield. In the centre, place the idol of Lord Krishna and a small figure of Arjuna. Small boxes can be used as chariots and wrapped in foil for a more royal look. You can add a tiny book to represent the Bhagavad Gita. Complete the Jhaanki by including toy figures of animals like horses and elephants.
