Lord Shri Krishna Janmashtami is observed on the Ashtami, the eighth day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of Bhadra in the Hindu calendar, in 2012 it falls on 10th August.

Nicely decorated colourful Jhulas (swings) are hung in the courtyards of temples and houses in honour of Lord Krishna on this day.

The day is also marked by Ras Lila and Dahi Handi celebrations. Rasa lila is nothing but the dramatic enactments of the life of Krishna while Dahi Handi celebration marks Lord Krishna’s mischievous side wherein teams of young people form huge pyramids to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it.

This tradition is a major event in Tamil Nadu on Gokulashtami.

The festivities go on for two days and reach its peak at midnight of the first day. This midnight time is when Lord Krishna is said to have been born.

As Shri Krishna was very fond of sweets and other milk products, so his devotees have sweets like Kheer, Pedha, Gulabjamun, Shrikhand etc to commemorate the occasion.