A day before Janmashtami, the festival that marks the birth of Lord Krishna, children of DAV Public School (Chandrasekharpur), Bhubaneswar, break the traditional makhan handi on the school grounds on Wednesday. Festive zeal was evident at many other schools in Bhubaneswar as students and teachers decorated the compound with flowers and lamps. Children from the lower classes dressed up as mythological characters, a peacock feather adorning the heads of the little Krishnas, who also flaunted flutes. They recreated scenes from Krishna’s life, the most popular being breaking the makhan handi. One of the Lord's most mischievous antics was stealing butter as a child. In the evening, markets in Bhubaneswar were full of people shopping for various puja paraphernalia and idols of Lord Krishna. Authorities at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple said Janmashtami would be celebrated on two consecutive days. The celebrations will begin after midnight on Wednesday as the Hindu god was born after midnight. All educational institutions and government offices will remain closed on Thursday on account of the festival. Telegraph picture