Welcoming Laddu Gopal To Your Home This Janmashtami? Know These Rules

The auspicious festival of Janmashtami is celebrated every year on the Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadra. On this day, people observe a fast and worship the child form of Lord Krishna, known as Laddu Gopal. If you also wish to bring Laddu Gopal into your home on this auspicious festival, it is important to know the rules regarding it. Dr Ganesh Mishra, Assistant Professor Central Sanskrit University, Puri explained the method of bringing and keeping Laddu Gopal at home.

Janmashtami 2024 Muhurat:

This year, Janmashtami falls on August 26, Monday. The sacred Muhurat for conducting the special rituals starts at 12:01 AM and will continue till 12:45 AM at night.

Rules you should keep in mind for bringing and keeping Laddu Gopal at home:

1. On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, select a beautiful idol of Laddu Gopal. Make sure that the idol is not broken in any way, and that the face is properly made. Buy a swing, bedding, clothes suitable for the season, a peacock crown, a flute, a crown, and garlands for the idol.

2. On Janmashtami, set up a seat for Laddu Gopal at your place of worship; perform a special puja to welcome the god.

3. Once you bring Laddu Gopal to your home, you must take care of him just like your own child.  You should bathe him daily using Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee and Ganga water).

4. After bathing Laddu Gopal, dress him in clean clothes. Then adorn him with sandalwood paste, garlands, a crown, hair, and a flute.

5. You must worship Laddu Gopal regularly. Special aartis should be performed in the morning and evening.

6. Just as a child feels hungry, Laddu Gopal also feels hungry from time to time. You must offer him food at least four times a day. You can offer him butter, sugar, milk, butter, kheer (rice pudding), or any food prepared in your home. Ensure the food does not contain garlic or onion.

7. Laddu Gopal should always be kept close to family members. You must never leave him alone.

8. When you bring Laddu Gopal home, you must make changes in your own daily habits. You must complete all tasks for Laddu Gopal before attending to your own work. You should lead a pure (sattvic) life and stay away from impure (tamasic) things. It is essential to follow these rules when keeping Laddu Gopal at home.

Method for keeping Laddu Gopal at home:

On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, set up a special place for Laddu Gopal at your place of worship. Prepare the necessary items for the puja. First, bathe him with Panchamrit, which is a mixture of milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, and Ganga water. Then, wipe his body and dress him with new clothes. Apply sandalwood paste, and adorn him with a crown, flute, armlets, bracelets, earrings, and other ornaments. Then place him in the cradle.

Now, perform the puja of Laddu Gopal with yellow flowers, rice grains, fruits, incense, lamps, offerings, sandalwood paste, and tulsi leaves. Then perform the aarti. In this way, establish Laddu Gopal at home on the first day, and then continue to serve him everyday by following the rules that are mentioned above.