However a number of people have either decided to give the temples a miss and do their puja at home or go to the temple early in the day to avoid the crowds for fear of the H1N1 virus.

'We have a puja in the evening at home. Our relatives will be coming down for it and we will have a bhog. After that bhajans and other devotional songs will be sung. I am not sure if I will go to the temple though, the crowds thronging the temples on Janmashtami is something I want to avoid,' said Shyama Das, an advertising executive.

For the bhog, Das's family, like most others, has prepared a range of delicacies like halwa and kheer. The feasting however comes after a daylong fast that many people observe.

'We have also got a baby idol of Lord Krishna and have placed it in a cradle, symbolizing that he was born today. We have also bathed the idol in milk,' she added.

Rahul Misra, a student, said that his family had already visited the temple in the morning.

'We will go for the puja to a relative's home in the evening. I am not sure I will visit the temple at midnight when people usually throng the temple,' Misra added.