The massive crowds of devotees in temples, elaborately decorated tableaus and Dahi Handi revelry were all missing this year on Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, as celebrations were dampened by COVID-19 restrictions.
Amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums, priests offered prayers since early morning in temples but there were no special religious discourses, 'Krishnalila' dance dramas and community kitchens as the entry of devotees had been either banned or restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The rituals were, however, streamed online from some temples. In North India, families usually observe a day-long fast and hold special prayers at midnight.
Tight security arrangements were made outside the main temples to ensure that people followed social distancing.
The festivities were also relatively low-key in the main temples of Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Mahaban and Baldeo, which are usually visited by lakhs of pilgrims on the occasion.
Soaked in religious fervour, devotees would throng decked-up temples and take out colourful processions to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, but like other festivals in COVID-19 times, rituals have been restricted on Janmashtami too in the country.
Though the entry of devotees was banned, a large number of people assembled outside the Sri Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura and greeted each other with chants of Lord Krishna.
Adhering to the social distancing guidelines, Dahi Handi mandals did not form human pyramids this year.
Instead, they carried out health and social welfare drives, like blood donation camps and removal of plastic, organisers said.
The festival was celebrated in some parts of the country on Tuesday.
>Amid chants of vedic hymns, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated Janmashtami at the Gorakhnath temple on Tuesday night, temple manager Dwarika Tiwari said.
On Wednesday morning, the chief minister visited a cow shelter in the premises of Gorakhnath temple after taking blessings of Mahant Digvijaynath and Mahant Avaidyanath.
Bal Krishna Sajja competition was not organised this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiwari added.
With people being apprehensive about venturing into markets for festival shopping due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, businesses too have taken a hit.
Several artisans who make clay models of Lord Krishna and stitch dresses for the idols incurred losses.
Navin Paul, a clay modeller at Kumartuli in Kolkata said, "I made around 40 small idols of Lord Krishna but managed to sell just 10. I don't know what to do with the rest."
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had greeted citizens on the eve of Janmashtami.
In his message, President Kovind had appreciated the efforts of all corona warriors who are at the forefront of the country's fight against COVID-19, according to an official statement.
"Lord Shri Krishna inspires us to establish a society that is just, sensitive and compassionate. His message of Karmayoga is a call to focus on our responsibilities rather than caring for rewards. This spirit has been evident in the working of all our corona warriors who act at the forefront of our fight against COVID-19," he said.