rocking cradle for Krsna dolls painted blue with daisy and blueberry folk art style and blue flowery bedding wooden cradle on pink background
Baby krsna doll blue boy krsna tucked into a wooden rocking cradle painted red with folkstyle art flowers in gold on the sides of the cot and a pink sheet
Baby krsna doll blue boy krsna tucked into a wooden rocking cradle painted red with folkstyle art flowers in gold on the sides of the cot and a pink sheet
Offer Ornaments for His sweet head with a Crown – Various styles of mukut available for His Size!
opulent and princely, this crown has the shape of a turban and unique falling fringe of studded gemstones.
Adorn Radha & Krsna in this sweet pair of custom Mukut pink crowns. Perfect for your Remember Krishna dolls
Srimate Radharani - Radhika! She who brings pleasure to Sri Krishna What could be sweeter than Radha to play with Krishna?!
Lord Balaram – the protective elder brother of Sri Krishna
Give Krishna butterpot!
Butterpots of all shapes and colors suit sweet Krishna
These adorable butter pots are perfect for offerings, whether you add tiny foodstuffs, flowers or other things for sweet Krishna, they will give so much fun to your playtime.
There are multiple throne options which suit this beautiful Krsna – have a browse through Krishna’s Accessories category to see which one you like, as well as nice decorated cloths and cushions or swings.
Animal friends! What is sweeter than playing with Krishna and His friends?
After all, Krishna is never alone! Add more friends to your collection of Krishna toys.
Radharani and Rangini
peacock friend of Krishna
Darling Deer suits larger Krsna and Radha dolls
baby monkey from the front with big eyes cute ears and curling tail
There were a number of things that made this time wonderfully exciting for me, and I have SO MANY pictures I feel I could do at least 6 blog posts to cover them all! Only- I don’t think I will, so I might just tell you all about how KRISHNA CAME- CONQUERED – LEFT!
He first arrived to visit in January 2018, and due to a series of unexpected events (all of exciting nature – like, the Hawaiian floods, then volcanoes, then unexpected disappearances in the family, and great moves across the continent!) He ended up staying with me for 8 glorious months of dedicated sewing time, having Him RIGHT HERE for fittings, sitting at my table and available to be closely measured and doted on.
Instagram was full of my different WIP clothes for Krishna, and every weekend was a speed sewing fest. I think I’ve been too busy to focus on anything else! Actually, I lured my sister into leaving Krishna with me, when she dashed home in March, by promising 10 complete outfits with turbans, and not to do anything else until they were done! It was tricky, I had a few distractions, but I MADE IT! 10 beautiful outfits for Krsna, in 3 weeks. Ok maybe more like in 8 months, but by now I have capped the Krishna wardrobe collection, running on to more like… 16? I have to count!
We had a lot of fun naming the outfits creatively! This is His outfit list:
Lotus (definately one of the favorite outfits!)
Mango Lion;
this one was made thinking about Lord Nrsringadev, with more of a shako style turban for Krishna. It’s an interesting and functional outfit where you can remove that floaty orange silk overskirt, and style it more simply with just the vest, pants and shawl.
This outfit, such a hit! The purple is one of her favorite colors, and purple and gold = sensational. The Blue and the Purple are almost the same in style, with the puffy pant and the overskirt, top, topped with big turban.
They’re both super majestic and formal and a bit dancey.
One of my earlier efforts, before I went all out lavish after a bit more direction from my sister toward “mathura prince Krishna style”.
It’s still got that glorious dhoti, and the nice useful vest which will probably be great in the changing seasons weather, like the Autumn coolness or unpredictability of Spring.
Majestic Prince (the turban for this outfit is my sisters favorite turban – it’s also the biggest and most full on ornamented!)
Honestly I struggled a LOT with this outfit! I made the maroon velvet top, which I think veers towards luscious velvet bathrobe. And pairing it with YELLOW was such a hard choice but it’s so INDIAN I think, and super authentic. The Turban just kept getting bigger and bigger! Still, it’s one of my sisters favorites, she confided.
so cute, this coat is made from heavy braid, and topped with a soft silk shirt and a fair bit of braid. The braid was donated by MadyaLila from Ashraya! It’s the extra’s for one of her Ashraya outfits, so as she told me delightfully, she’s so happy to be twinning with Krishna!
Balaram Lustre outfit started out with this pristine white velvet, and the concept of a rolled side turban with that higher on one side Rajput Princely style element. It came out REALLY NICELY, I felt, but I did warm up all the white with some blue vest.
I’m particularly keen on the pearl drop elements at His beautiful waist.
This beautiful outfit has the best set of pants, they’re the final product after 4 attempts at pants, I think I finally made the best type for Him.
They are made from a blue shantung silk, and the outfit has a matching oriental green skirt, with a green silk fitted top. I have also paired it with a high waist belt, as you sometimes see in ancient Indian paintings and sculptures. LOVE IT!
Fresh forest flowers – this one is a rejected outfit… I made it, I like it, but it’s not been popular due to the large flowery print, and so it’s one I’m keeping here to model off SIZES. To me it’s very Rajput. And I love it.
A beautiful tradition in India to celebrate and decorate for Sri Krishna Janmastami is to use Rangoli paste and decorate from the entry, all the way into the altar, with little footprints, inviting little sweet Krishna in.
rice flour traditional rangoli decoration
We have celebrated and decorated in this way since my marvellous sister suggested it 10 years ago!
Always in rentals, with rarely any options to actually use anything messy like riceflour paste, we have had to be creative!
How you execute this idea will depend on your floor type, and time/money factor.
You can buy removable/reuseable wall decals in the shape of little gorgeous footprints online. I did a quick search for sources and found the following options:
I have seen these in plain white at my local craft shop so cheaply. They work reversable coz they are blank.
foam and glitter foot prints from amazon
order online wall decal easy
Order online from amazon
The wall decals work best if you have a tile or wooden floor. Alternately you may choose to run them along the sides of the wall to the altar, rather than the floor. When we have them on the floor the kids love to run after them following the foots, which is fine because it leads them to the altar!
When we ordered a set of these, I painted on the symbols. But to be totally frank they did not last removal and my 1yr old’s determination to destroy. They may be better these days!
You can also order little paper cut craft feet from the craft stores, maybe you can pick it up instore, or maybe you can order it online.
They are easy and cute!
We of course went the whole CHEAP and LABORIOUS HOG.
What we did was cut stencils, and then used the stencil to create a huge amount of little lotus flowers with Krsna’s lotus feet in them. I’m sorry to say I did NOT get Krsna’s lovely markings on the correct feet, I realized a few years later (sigh and cry).
You can contact paper the lotus flowers with Krsna’s feet on them, to protect them, and then use bluetack to adhere the lotus feet to the ground.
But with all our effort, it was well worth it, because we have used them for years.
Have fun at home setting up beautiful festive decorations for Janmastami, and celebrate it as a true festival, it really is the best time of the year!
These have been used repeatedly over the years, and we use them to decorate the walls up the stairwell to lead into the party for Krishna’s appearance day too.
More ideas on celebrating Krishna Janmastami coming up – this is going to be a 14 day series of blog posts for you, and I’ll link them all here. Be sure to sign up to the newsletter to see all the ideas.
Large saucer (either plastic or ceramic, depending on your budget)
Soil (potting mix is fine)
Your choice of Seeds – I suggest a combo of allyssium, or other low growing ground cover seeds including grass
Use a large platter, like a saucer for under a big pot (buy from a garden wares shop), and mound up soil. You can combine the soil with moisture retaining particles or if you buy a potting mix it may already have that in it.
Sew your seeds liberally – place the hill in a nice sunny spot.
Water daily with a gentle sprinkle
Watch and wait! Soon enough your little goverdhan hill will begin to sprout seedlings and you can watch it flourish.
You can now decorate your hill.
There a lots of mini kits online to use with terrariums, and this hill is just the right size to use them! Look out for mini deer, little rabbits, mushrooms, flowers and birds and cows, to decorate your hill.
You can also position a little Krsna atop your hill, but be mindful of not getting him wet! Krishna dolls are available at www.rememberkrishna.com/shop
If you would like to expand the Goverdhan hill activity you can also visit and download the beautiful ready to print pdf of Krishna and the residents of Vrindavan cut out figures. Print and color and cut – ready inhabitants of Vrindavan for the Goverdhan hill!
One of the nicest things about this activity is the way that you can look after it all year round, and keep adding on and growing new little things on your hill.
Goverdhan puja is such a wonderful festival and time of year a happy occasion to celebrate, and we can invite our children and friends into this world of transcendental happiness, enjoying decorating and making, and giving prasadam.
I have always wanted to have a Goverdhan hill for our home for my children to play with, and have been so enchanted and inspired by the Goverdhan celebrations and crafts I have seen from my friends and others online. This growing Goverdhan Hill activity was inspired by a dear friend who first made the hill at home, for her grandchildren – covered in tulasi and alyssum flowers and little seedlings. My sister in Hawaii also had in her garden a little rock mountain which was covered in moss where they placed a Krishna statute and had tulasi growing. It was in a central mound and we could circunambulate or and chant and worship goverdhan and Krishna.
Worship your hill by singing Jaya Goverdhan! Jaya Gopala, Goverdhan Giridhari.
It’s so special to offer Krsna our heartfelt and lovingly prepared offerings for His enjoyment! My dear friend and clever artist, teacher, and busy mother, Kalindi, put together this amazing presentation for a whole slew of children to be busily occupied in!
They had at least 5 practices and I had not seen a single thing before THE NIGHT! It was such an incredible performance, and honestly I had thought that maybe the puppet show (I knew they were practicing, at least) could be a fairly tame one to like a pre-recorded long storytape soundtrack, but WOW was I wrong! I was hollering for more when it finished! (No really, if you watch my version I’m cheering them on..). . . We all were!
When I asked Kalindi if she would like to share some photos and details about the puppet show creation with everyone to inspire and enthuse you, she was actually really happy and excited to, which makes me so happy! She’s prepared this great brief “how-to” and commentary for you, and I just know you will be as delighted as I am.
These puppets were designed to accompany the verses of the ‘Sri Dasavatara stotra’ Prayers by Jayadeva Goswami glorifying the incarnations of Lord Krishna on this planet.
Each puppet was carefully drawn onto black card with white pencil. Then cut out. A knife was used to stencil out all the intricate details. Some puppets had moving parts, so the limbs were drawn separately and reattached with a paper fastener. Bamboo sticks were stuck to the main body as a holding stick, using masking tape, with each moving limb attached to a separate stick with a loop of wire and tape.
The most difficult part of producing these puppets is trying to make the longer parts, such as arms and weapons, steady. This was done by taping on kebab sticks with tape and using clear sticky tape over all the stenciled out sections to protect from tearing.
The screen was made out of a white sheet, wooden poles and ropes attached for support.
When performing the show, there were between 2 to 4 people behind the screen at one time. Some puppets need 2 people to work them as it is important to have one person hold the support stick while parts are moving.
The most difficult part of producing these puppets is trying to make the longer parts, such as arms and weapons, steady. This was done by taping on kebab sticks with tape and using clear sticky tape over all the stenciled out sections to protect from tearing.
The most enjoyable puppet to work was Lord Matsya with his huge flapping tale and Lord Kalki, which had 3 people working him, as he could trot and stand on his hind legs.
Sri Dasavatara-stotra (from Gita-govinda) by Jayadeva Gosvami
(1)
pralaya-payodhi-jale dhritavan asi vedam
vihita-vahitra-caritram akhedam
kesava dhrita-mina-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a fish! All glories to You!
You easily acted as a boat in the form of a giant fish just to give protection to the Vedas, which had
become immersed in the turbulent sea of devastation.
(2)
kshitir iha vipulatare tishthati tava prishthe
dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garishthe
kesava dhrita-kurma-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a tortoise! All glories to You!
In this incarnation as a divine tortoise the great Mandara Mountain rests upon Your gigantic back as a pivot
for churning the ocean of milk. From holding up the huge mountain a large scarlike depression is put in
Your back, which has become most glorious.
(3)
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrita-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You!
The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed
upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.
(4)
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-sringam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhringam
kesava dhrita-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All
glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of
the wasplike demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful
lotus hands.
(5)
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrita-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana! All
glories to You! O wonderful dwarf, by Your massive steps You deceive King Bali, and by the Ganges water that
has emanated from the nails of Your lotus feet, You deliver all living beings within this world.
(6)
kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
kesava dhrita-bhrigupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Bhrigupati [Parasurama]!
All glories to You! At Kurukshetra You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies of the
demoniac kshatriyas that You have slain. The sins of the world are washed away by You, and because of You
people are relieved from the blazing fire of material existence.
(7)
vitarasi dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
kesava dhrita-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Ramacandra! All glories to
You! In the battle of Lanka You destroy the ten-headed demon Ravana and distribute his heads as a
delightful offering to the presiding deities of the ten directions, headed by Indra. This action was long desired
by all of them, who were much harassed by this monster.
(8)
vahasi vapushi visade vasanam jaladabham
hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
kesava dhrita-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Balarama, the wielder of
the plow! All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body You wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain
cloud. These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to
the striking of Your plowshare.
(9)
nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam
sadaya-hridaya darsita-pasu-ghatam
kesava dhrita-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Buddha! All glories to You!
O Buddha of compassionate heart, you decry the slaughtering of poor animals performed according to the rules
of Vedic sacrifice.
(10)
mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam
dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
kesava dhrita-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Kalki! All glories to You!
You appear like a comet and carry a terrifying sword for bringing about the annihilation of the wicked
barbarian men at the end of the Kali-yuga.
(11)
sri-jayedeva-kaver idam uditam udaram
srinu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
kesava dhrita-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed these ten different forms of
incarnation! All glories to You! O readers, please hear this hymn of the poet Jayadeva, which is most excellent,
an awarder of happiness, a bestower of auspiciousness, and is the best thing in this dark world.
They had at least 5 practices and I had not seen a single thing before THE NIGHT! It was such an incredible performance, and honestly I had thought that maybe the puppet show (I knew they were practicing, at least) could be a fairly tame one to like a pre-recorded long storytape soundtrack, but WOW was I wrong! I was hollering for more when it finished! (No really, if you watch my version I’m cheering them on..). . . We all were!
