Hindus across India celebrate Janmashtami festival – in pictures

Children dressed as Krishna mark Janmashtami, in Bhopal Photograph: Sanjeev Gupta/EPA

Hindu devotees pay their respects to an idol of Krishna, by pouring milk and water on it during the festival at the Shivala temple, in Amritsar Photograph: Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

A young girl in traditional dress dances during celebrations in Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Young girls share a laugh during celebrations at a temple in Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Devotees form a human pyramid to break the "dahi handi", an earthen pot filled with curd, an integral part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami. It celebrates the god's more playful side after a tale in which he is said to have ingeniously managed to reach and break an urn to eat fermented milk, despite it being placed very high, as an impish child Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

Devotees form a human pyramid to break the dahi handi (yoghurt pot), in Mumbai Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

A girl cools off with a fan during festival celebrations at a temple in New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Devotees form a human pyramid to break the dahi handi, in Mumbai Photograph: Rajanish Kakade/AP

Devotees form a human pyramid to break a dahi handi in Mumbai Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

An woman carries her son dressed as Krishna during celebrations at a temple in Jammu Photograph: Channi Anand/AP