Bangladeshi Hindus celebrate colourful Janmashtami in Dhaka

Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus took to the streets of Dhaka on Sunday to celebrate Janmashtami, the Hindu festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna, who is revered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Janmashtami is observed as a public holiday in Bangladesh, and the occasion is marked by religious ceremonies and a traditional procession through the capital, Efe reported.

The celebrations featured colourful costumes, painted faces and props as participants recreated scenes and episodes associated with Hindu religious scriptures. The procession also included young participants dressed as Krishna, some of whom were carried through the gathering as devotees celebrated the festival.

The annual procession traditionally begins at the historic Dhakeshwari Temple and makes its way through the streets of Old Dhaka, drawing devotees and onlookers along the route.

Janmashtami is celebrated by Hindus in several countries and is particularly associated with devotional singing, prayers, fasting and cultural performances. In Bangladesh, the public celebration in Dhaka also reflects the country's Hindu community's long-standing religious and cultural traditions.

The festivities bring together devotees of different ages, with temples and streets decorated for the occasion and religious programmes continuing throughout the day.