Mathura, August 22 (ANI): Thousands of devotees soaked in devotion thronged birthplace of Lord Krishna in Uttar Pradesh on Monday to celebrate his birth anniversary. Chanting hymns and carrying religious offerings, people flocked temples dedicated to the Hindu god in Mathura to mark the festival of Janamashtmi with pageantry. The priests performed rituals in the temples to mark 5240th birthday of Lord Krishna. A devotee, Nishi Khurana, said she was elated to visit Mathura to be a part of the celebration. Lord Krishna is regarded as the eighth incarnation of the Hindu deity 'Vishnu', the Preserver of the Universe. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Krishna was born at the midnight hour on this day. Another devotee, Goldy Khurana, said Mathura reverberated with a different kind of enthusiasm when it came to celebrate Janamashtmi. According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is observed on the Ashtami Tithi, which is the eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada (sixth month of the Hindu calendar year) in the Hindu almanac.