Indian Hindu devotees across the world celebrated the Krishna Janmashtami festival, which marks the birth of Hindu deity Lord Krishna.
Also known as Saatam Aatham, Gokulashami or simply Janmashtami, the festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Pasha of the month of Shravana, which, in the Hindu calendar, runs from August until September. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, worshipping Lord Krishna and offering prayers at the time he is believed to have been born. At midnight, worshippers gather to sing, dance and exchange gifts.
Children dressed up as Lord Krishna pose during Janmashtami festival celebrations in AgartalaJayanta Dey/Reuters
However, restrictions were put in place this year for one of the festivals main traditions, Dahi Handi, a popular ritual in which people climb on top of each other to form a human pyramid. The aim is to break a pot full of curd that is hanging on a rope high above the ground.
This year, the Supreme Court upheld a lower courts decision on 17 August 2016, banning anyone under the age of 18 to participate. They also imposed a height restriction for the pyramid to 6 metres.
Workers of regional party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) wore T-shirts reading 'I will break the law' and formed a human pyramid of 15 metres high in the Thane district. In Mumbai, 'Govindas' – as the Krishna devotees call themselves – lay on the ground to form a human chain in protest of the court order. Another group used a ladder to reach the curd-filled pot, or 'dahi handi', and raised black flags in a show of protest.
IBTimes UK takes a look at some of the best photos from the festival so far:
Indian Hindus devotees are showered with water while taking a pledge before forming a 'human pyramid' during the Dahi Handi celebrations in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPDevotees form a human pyramid for the Dahi Handi celebrations for the festival of Janmashtami in MumbaiShailesh Andrade/ReutersDevotees form a human pyramid to celebrate the festival of Janmashtami in MumbaiShailesh Andrade/ReutersHindu devotees take a tumble while forming a 'human pyramid' during the Dahi Handi celebrations for Janmashtami in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPAn Indian Hindu devotee breaks an earthen pot standing atop a 'human pyramid' during the dahi handi (curd pot) celebrations for Janmashtami in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPAn girl dressed as the Hindu god Lord Krishna supports a human pyramid during the in the run up to the Dahi Handi celebrations of 'Janmashtami' in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPHindu devotees lie down on the ground in the formation of a pyramid as a protest against the recent apex court decision over the Dahi Handi celebrations of Janmashtami in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPA child dressed as Hindu god Lord Krishna looks on during the Dahi Handi celebrations of Janmashtami in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPIndian participants dressed as the Hindu god Lord Krishna wait for the start of a cultural event in the run up to the Dahi Handi celebrations of 'Janmashtami' in MumbaiIndranil Mukerjee/AFPGirls dressed up as Radha, consort of Hindu Lord Krishna, pray inside a classroom as they celebrate Janmashtami festival at a school in AhmedabadAmit Dave/ReutersChildren cheer as they celebrate Janmashtami festival at a school in AhmedabadAmit Dave/ReutersStudents participate in celebrations ahead of the Janmashtami festival in MumbaiDanish Siddiqui/ReutersA girl dressed up as Hindu Lord Krishna performs during Janmashtami festival celebrations in AhmedabadAmit Dave/ReutersPeople look at an effigy of Putna, a female demon who according to Hindu epics tried to feed Hindu Lord Krishna poisoned milk, when the Lord was still a baby, at a temple during the Janmashtami festival in ChandigarhAjay Verma/ReutersHindu devotees pour milk on to the idol of Hindu God Lord Krishna at the Shivala temple, during the Janmashtami festival in AmritsarNarinder Nanu/AFPAn Indian school teacher places a coconut as she offers prayers at a statue of Hindu god Lord Krishna during Janmashtami in HyderabadNoah Seelam/AFPA vendor selling idols of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha waits for customers at a roadside market during the Janmashtami festival in AhmedabadAmit Dave/ReutersA Indian worker gives the finishing touches to an idol of Hindu god Krishna at a workshop, ahead of Krishna Janmashtami in ChennaiArun Sankar/AFPAn artisan paints an idol of Lord Krishna at a workshop ahead of Janmashtami in KolkataRupak De Chowdhuri/ReutersA Indian woman worker gives the finishing touches to an idol of Hindu god Krishna at a workshop ahead of the Janmashtami celebrations in ChennaiArun Sankar/AFPChildren dressed as Hindu god Lord Krishna during at a fancy dress competition during Janamashthami in HyderabadNoah Seelam/AFP
