While famous offerings like panjiri and makhan mishri always manage to grab all the spotlight, one more ingredient holds cultural importance - 'cucumber.' But what makes this ingredient a significant part of the ritual? Let's find out.
Connection between cucumber and Janmashtami

According to Hindu traditions and scriptures, a cucumber with its stem attached symbolises the umbilical cord that connects a mother to her child. During Janmashtami, the connection is interpreted, which also represents Lord Krishna's bond with his mother, Devaki. In many households, devotees place the idol of Lord Krishna inside a fresh, hollow cucumber and recreate the sacred moment of his birth. At midnight, exactly at 12 am, which is believed to be the time of Krishna's birth, the cucumber is cut open, and this practice symbolises his arrival into the world.

Janmashtami rituals and celebration

Cucumber is believed to hold a special place in the Chappan bhog, where the 56 items are traditionally offered to Lord Krishna. One of the unique rituals celebrated widely in the northern part of India involves cutting the cucumber exactly at 12 am. Traditionally, the cucumber was not cut with a knife but a coin, which reinforces the spiritual aspect of the act. This midnight ceremony also signifies lord Krishna's liberation from the prison of Kansa.
The cucumber is placed in water or on a decorated plate, and puja is performed by chanting mantras and hymns. The vegetable is picked carefully based on its freshness and is also marked with Kumkum. Some devotees also place a small idol of Laddu Gopal inside the cucumber, which is later offered as prasad which symbolising purity and renewal.
This sacred practice is not just a spiritual belief; it serves as a reminder to devotees to express their devotion and seek blessings from Lord Krishna.