For Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Krishna Janmashtami carries a very different meaning now.
The Saath Nibhaana Saathiya actress, who became a mother to her son Joy in December 2024, says the festival has moved beyond rituals and celebrations for her. Motherhood has made the story of Yashoda and little Krishna feel far more personal.
Speaking about the festival, Devoleena reflected on the emotional connection between motherhood and the bond shared by Yashoda and Krishna.
“Every mother is Yashoda, because to her, her child is never just a child — he is her whole Krishna.”
For the actress, the connection does not depend on literally being the mother of a divine child. Instead, she believes the story resonates with the unconditional love, protectiveness and devotion that mothers experience with their children.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee Says Every Mother Can Feel Like Yashoda
Devoleena explained that the essence of Yashoda’s relationship with Krishna lies in the love she felt for the child she considered her own.
According to the actress, motherhood brings with it a constant awareness of a child’s wellbeing — from wondering whether the baby has eaten and slept to worrying about their safety.
She described that emotional transformation as something that allows mothers to understand the story of Yashoda differently.
“Yashoda didn’t love Krishna because he was God. She didn’t even know he was God. She loved him simply because he was hers. Her Kanha, her laddu, her whole world.”
For Devoleena, that is what makes the relationship between Yashoda and Krishna so relatable to mothers.
The story is not simply about divinity. It is also about the everyday, unconditional love between a mother and her child.
‘Before Becoming a Mother, Janmashtami Was Just a Festival’
Motherhood has also changed the way Devoleena personally experiences Janmashtami.
The actress recalled that before becoming a mother, the festival was primarily associated with Lord Krishna’s birth, fasting and the midnight celebrations traditionally connected with the occasion.
Now, she sees it through the perspective of a mother.
“Before becoming a mother, Janmashtami was just a festival — a story of Lord Krishna’s birth, a fast, a celebration at midnight. After becoming a mother, Janmashtami becomes a feeling.”
That shift, she said, has made her think differently about the emotions experienced by Yashoda and Devaki.
The sleepless nights associated with caring for a newborn, the instinctive concern for a child’s safety and the joy of watching a baby smile have given her a new understanding of the mythology.
Devoleena on the Emotional Side of Motherhood
The actress’s comments also reflect how dramatically motherhood can alter familiar experiences.
For her, the story of Yashoda is no longer something she simply observes as part of a religious festival. She now sees elements of her own experience in the relationship.
Devoleena spoke about the hours mothers can spend watching their children and the way a baby’s happiness can become central to a parent’s emotional world.
She drew a connection between those everyday experiences and the devotion traditionally associated with Yashoda’s love for Krishna.
“You finally understand what Yashoda or Devki must have felt. The sleepless nights suddenly make sense.”
She also described Krishna as being present beyond the traditional story of his birth in Mathura.
“You realize Krishna wasn’t just born in Mathura. He is born in every home, in the form of your child.”
For Devoleena, that idea captures the emotional heart of celebrating Janmashtami as a mother.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Her Son Joy
Devoleena married Shanwaz Shaikh in December 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Joy, in December 2024.
Becoming a parent has added a new dimension to the actress’s public journey, and her reflections on Janmashtami offer a glimpse into how she views that experience.
Rather than focusing only on the festive traditions associated with Krishna’s birth, she has connected the occasion with the everyday realities of caring for a child.
That includes the exhaustion, protectiveness and overwhelming affection that can accompany early parenthood.
Her interpretation of Janmashtami is therefore deeply rooted in the emotional experience of motherhood.
From Gopi Bahu to a New Chapter in Real Life
Devoleena remains closely associated with one of Indian television’s most recognisable characters — Gopi Modi, popularly known as Gopi Bahu, from Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.
She made her television debut with Sawaare Sabke Sapne… Preeto before landing the role that would transform her career.
Her portrayal of Gopi in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya brought her widespread recognition and established her as one of the familiar faces of Hindi television.
The actress later explored reality television as well.
She participated in Bigg Boss 13 and subsequently returned to the franchise in the following seasons, appearing in Bigg Boss 14 and Bigg Boss 15.
Her television work has also included projects such as Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya and Dil Diyaan Gallaan.
Why Janmashtami Feels Different for Her Now
For Devoleena, this year’s Janmashtami is not simply another festival on the calendar.
Motherhood has given the celebration a personal emotional layer.
The story of Krishna and Yashoda now reminds her of the small but profound realities of raising a child — the sleepless nights, constant concern, affection and the feeling that a child’s happiness can become the centre of a parent’s world.
Her message is ultimately less about recreating the mythology and more about understanding its emotional core.
For every mother who sees her child as her entire world, Devoleena believes there is a little bit of Yashoda in that bond.
