AUG 28, KATHMANDU. Devotees are thronging the Shree Krishnamandir here since early morning today to pay homage to lord Krishna on the occasion of the Krishnajanmastami Festival.

Although the temple gates were opened at 4 a.m., a large number of devotees had started to queue up since 2 a.m. The number of devotees has been increasing. Groups of devotees can be seen singing hymns and giving homilies on the streets and squares around the temple complex.

The Shreekrishna Janmastami Festival commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna. It is believed that lord Krishna was born on this day [the eighth day in the dark moon period in the month of Shrawan according to the lunar calendar] during the Treta Yuga.

Lord Krishna is considered as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu god of protection. It is believed that lord Krishna was born to protect the world from vice and demonic forces. He is taken to embody the virtue of truth and dharma.

The Shree Krishnamandir in Patan, Lalitpur was constructed nearly 376 years and it is one of the finest examples of Nepali temple architectural design. The then king Siddhi Narsingh Malla commissioned the construction of this temple.

President Ram Baran Yadav has also visited the temple for paying homage in keeping with the tradition of the Head of State paying a visit and offering prayers here. RSS