Hindus in the country are celebrating Shree Krishna Janmashtami (Birth of Lord Krishna).

The celebration started yesterday and will end next Thursday.

Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji national president Sarju Prasad said: “During this day, Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born.

“Lord Krishna was born to kill his uncle Kansa who was a demon. He had overthrown his father and became King of Mathura.

“With his power and position, he abused and assaulted people and the priests. He wanted people to pray to him rather than to the gods,” he said.

Mr Prasad said when people tried praying to God, Kansa killed them. People were tired of this violence and prayed to Lord Vishnu to protect them.

“Kansa had a sister named Devaki whom he loved a lot and made his best friend Vasudeva marry her.

“On the day of their wedding, Kansa was told by heavenly voice prophesied that Devaki’s eighth son (an avatar of Lord Krishna) will kill him; he imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva and killed all their seven children,” he said.

Mr Prasad said however the eighth son, Krishna, (an avatar of the god Vishnu) was transported to Gokul, and raised in the care of Nanda, the head of cow herds.

“Kansa sent a host of demons to kill the child Krishna, but they were all killed by Krishna. Finally, Krishna arrives in Mathura, kills Kansa and frees his parents and grandfather from jail,” he said.

Edited by Maraia Vula