Antique Bronze Himalayan Krishna Statue

Each year between August and September the Hindu festival Krishna Janmashtam celebrates the birth of Krishna, it is an important festival for those who practice Vaishnavism with fasting, devotional singing, mantras, and ceremonies of bathing and adorning the ‘Baal Gopal’ or the infant form of Lord Krishna, to honor the actual moment of his birth at midnight, the time in which he is believed to have been born.

The next day the fast is broken and the festivities begin, with eating, dancing, and re-enactments of the life of Krishna. This festival is also an annual event in many parts of India and other countries such as Malaysia and Singapore where there is a sizeable Hindu population.

Hinduism is thought to have originated approximately 4,000 years ago In India’s Indus Valley, there it spread into Nepal, and is today it is Nepal’s main religion with more than 80% identifying as Hindu, followed by a minority of people practicing Buddhism and Islam, with a smaller minority practicing Sikhism, Jainism, and Christianity.

Vaishnavism is sometimes described as “monotheistic,” since Hindus consider Vishnu to be the supreme god, however, this sect of Hinduism believes in other gods and deities, such as Shiva, Kali, and many more.

The Nepali flag with a double triangle is believed to be given to the people by Lord Vishnu, it shows one triangle with a crescent moon with the sun rising and the other triangle showing a sun.