IN PHOTOS: Janmashtami fervour grips India

Devotees, chanting 'Hare Krishna Hare Rama', thronged decked-up temples as Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across the country.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Thousands of Mumbaikers poured into the streets for 'dahi handi' festivities with youngsters moving around the city in processions and breaking pots filled with butter or curd, which are hung at a considerable height, to win prize money.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples where special religious discourses, 'Krishnalila' or dance dramas and community kitchens were held.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Tight security arrangements were made for the festival and additional security personnel were deployed in sensitive places. Lakhs of pilgrims paid obeisance in the main temples of Mathura, the birth place of Krishna, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Mahaban and Baldeo, and performed circumambulation of hillock Goverdhan.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

The temples of International Society for Krishna Consciousness which celebrate the festival with great fervour and pomp, too attracted large congregations.

Click NEXT to see more photos ...

Bathing ceremony of the deity -- 'Abhishek' -- was performed with milk, curd, honey, ghee and khandsari amid chanting of vedic hymns. In Delhi, people thronged the brightly adorned temples and offered prayers to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Devotees gathered at Birla Mandir, ISKCON and other Krishna temples in the city where tableaux were set up, while priests and devotees chanted hymns from 'Srimad Bhagvad Gita' describing incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Devotees also observed day-long fast and the celebrations peak at midnight when Krishna was said to have been born. In Tamil Nadu, houses were decorated with Lord Krishna's portraits and the deity were offered delicacies such as 'seedai', made of milk, ghee and butter.

Click NEXT to see more pictures...

A girl dressed as Krishna waits backstage to perform during celebrations ahead of the Janmashtami festival in Ahmedabad.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Click NEXT to see more pictures...

A schoolboy dressed as Krishna waits for his performance to start inside a classroom during the celebrations to mark Janmashtami in New Delhi.

Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

Click NEXT to see more pictures...

Students dressed as Krishna and Radha take part in celebrations to mark the Janmashtami in Amritsar.

Photograph: Munish Sharma/Reuters

Click NEXT to see more pictures...

Schoolgirls dressed as Radha look at a child dressed as Krishna during the celebrations to mark Janmashtami in Ahmedabad.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Click NEXT to see more pictures...

A widow rolls on the floor covered with flower petals as part of prayers during the celebrations to mark Janmashtami at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in Vrindavan.

Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

...