Krishna Janmashtami
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, at midnight. Devotees fast, sing bhajans, and enact scenes from Krishna's childhood. Temples hold Dahi Handi events.
Why We Celebrate
Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna in a prison cell in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva, at the stroke of midnight on Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravana/Bhadrapada. Krishna's birth heralded the end of tyranny — his uncle Kamsa had been told the eighth child of Devaki would be his destroyer. Krishna's life as recounted in the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita represents divine love, playfulness, wisdom, and the triumph of dharma.
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura. His mother Devaki and father Vasudeva were imprisoned by the tyrant king Kamsa, who had been prophesied that Devaki's eighth child would kill him. At the moment of Krishna's birth, Vasudeva miraculously escaped the prison, carried baby Krishna across the flooded Yamuna river (with the serpent Shesha protecting them), and exchanged him with a girl child in Gokul.
Krishna grew up as the beloved son of Yashoda and Nanda in the village of Gokul, where his childhood was filled with divine play (Leela) — stealing butter (makhan chor), playing the flute, dancing with the gopis (milkmaids), and defeating demons sent by Kamsa. His life teaches devotion through love, joy, and playfulness. Later, as a charioteer in the Mahabharata, he delivered the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most sacred texts.
On Janmashtami, devotees fast until midnight, sing devotional songs, and enact scenes from Krishna's childhood. At the stroke of midnight, the birth is celebrated with ringing bells, blowing conch shells, and offering butter and sweets. The next day, Dahi Handi events reenact Krishna stealing butter from hanging pots. Janmashtami is a celebration of divine love, mischief, and the eternal child within us all.
How It's Celebrated
Fast the entire day (nirjala or phalahar) until midnight
Decorate a jhula (swing) for baby Krishna's idol
At midnight, perform the birth ceremony — bathe the idol in panchamrit
Sing bhajans and aarti, ring bells, and blow the conch at midnight
Break the fast after midnight puja with prasad
The next day, participate in or watch Dahi Handi celebrations
Regional Variations
What You Need
- Small Krishna idol (Laddu Gopal) for the jhula
- Jhula (decorated swing or cradle)
- Panchamrit (milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, sugar)
- Makhan-mishri (butter and sugar) as bhog
- Fresh fruits, tulsi leaves, and flowers
- New cloth for dressing the idol
- Incense, camphor, and oil lamp
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Midnight Krishna Abhishekam
Welcoming baby Krishna at midnight
Jhula Seva
Swinging baby Krishna — for families
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Did You Know?
- ✦Krishna was born at midnight in a prison cell — at the moment of his birth, the chains fell off his parents, the guards fell asleep, and the prison doors opened miraculously, allowing Vasudeva to carry him to safety.
- ✦The Dahi Handi tradition (breaking pots of butter) celebrates Krishna's childhood nickname "Makhan Chor" (butter thief) — he would form human pyramids with his friends to steal butter from pots hung high by the gopis.
- ✦Krishna is the only Hindu deity depicted as a complete avatar of Vishnu (Purna Avatar) with all 16 divine qualities (Kala), making him unique among Vishnu's incarnations.
Related Festivals
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