Janmashtami is the eighth night of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad, by the northern count of months, when Krishna was born in a prison cell in Mathura. People fast through the day, temples and homes build jhankis, tableaux of his childhood, and at midnight conches sound, the infant is bathed in milk and curd, and the fast is broken. The next day is Nandotsav.
The story
A voice from the sky told Kansa, tyrant of Mathura, that his sister Devaki's eighth son would kill him. He locked up Devaki and Vasudev and killed their children one by one. When the eighth was born the chains fell away; Vasudev carried him through the storm, the Yamuna parted, and the serpent Shesha spread his hoods over the basket. By morning the child was in Gokul, in Yashoda's arms.
What the north celebrates is less the king of Dwarka than Makhan Chor, the butter thief, and the flute player of Vrindavan.
नन्द के आनन्द भयो, जय कन्हैया लाल की । हाथी घोड़ा पालकी, जय कन्हैया लाल की ॥
Joy has come to Nanda's house: victory to little Kanhaiya! Elephants, horses, palanquins: victory to little Kanhaiya!
Sung at midnight and through Nandotsav
How it is kept
- Nirjala fastKept until midnight, by many without water.
- JhankiScenes from Krishna's childhood are set up in temples, homes and street corners, with a swing for Laddu Gopal.
- Midnight abhishekThe infant image is bathed in panchamrit, dressed and rocked; then the arati, and prasad of makhan-mishri and dhaniya panjiri.
- RaslilaTroupes of boys from Braj perform the episodes of his life.
- NandotsavThe morning after, sweets, toys and coins are thrown to the crowd to celebrate the news.
Why this date
Janmashtami is the Ashtami of the dark fortnight, in the month the north calls Bhadrapad and the south Shravan. It is kept on the day Ashtami covers midnight. Vaishnava temples sometimes observe it a day later, when the star Rohini coincides.
Krishna Janmashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More North Indian festivals
17 AugustRaksha Bandhanरक्षा बंधन
4 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiगणेश चतुर्थी
18 JulyGuru Purnimaगुरु पूर्णिमा
7 OctoberDurga Ashtamiदुर्गा अष्टमी
14 JulyDevshayani Ekadashiदेवशयनी एकादशी
8 OctoberMaha Navamiमहा नवमी
Where to see Krishna Janmashtami
In North India
- Krishna Janmasthan, MathuraUttar PradeshThe site of the prison cell. The midnight abhishek is watched by lakhs in the city and on television across the country.
- Banke Bihari Temple, VrindavanUttar PradeshThe only night of the year on which Mangala Arati is offered here.
- GokulUttar PradeshAcross the Yamuna, where the child was brought; Nandotsav the next morning is its great day.
- NathdwaraRajasthanShrinathji is saluted with cannon fire at midnight.
Across India
- Dwarkadhish Temple, DwarkaGujaratThe city he founded and ruled, on the western shore.
- MumbaiMaharashtraDahi Handi: Govinda teams build human towers to break the pot.
- UdupiKarnatakaThe temple of the child Krishna, with tiger dancers in the streets the next day.