When is Krishna Janmashtami? Date, Timing, and Significance of the Hindu Festival – Times of India

Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, as per Hindu mythology. Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated with great joy and devotion by devotees across the world. On this day, people light fast and pray to Lord Krishna to celebrate his birth on Earth. It is said that praying to Lord Krishna can bring positivity into one’s life.Devotees believe that Lord Krishna guides them on the path of spiritual awakening.
This year, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on Monday, August 26, 2024, to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, as per the Hindu calendar. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Janmashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, and Sree Jayanti.

Read on to know more about this festival here.

Rituals of Krishna Janmashtami

This festival is celebrated with joy and excitement throughout the country. Devotees of Lord Krishna visit temples at midnight to celebrate his birth by chanting mantras, singing devotional songs, and recounting stories of his life.
They decorate temples and homes with oil lamps (diyas), lights, and flowers. Lord Krishna’s idol is bathed in panchamrit and water, following which devotees offer clothes, jewellery, and bhog to Bal Krishna. At some places, people also get-together to celebrate Janmashtami by performing rasa lila– a reenactment of Lord Krishna’s mischief and playful nature.

On this day, devotees observe a strict fast throughout the day and break it after offering Lord Krishna milk, sweets, kheer, butter (maakhan), and chappan bhog. The ritual is followed by a swing (jhoola) ceremony, where Lord Krishna is placed on a decorative swing, and devotees seek blessings for a happy, long, and prosperous life ahead. This auspicious day is celebrated across India with great love and devotion of Lord Krishna.

Date, Time, and Muhurat of Krishna Janmashtami

According to Drik Panchang, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on Monday, August 26, 2024. The muhurat for Krishna Janmashtami this year, as per Drik Panchang are:
– Nishita Puja time starts from 12:01 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on August 27, lasting for 45 minutes.
– The sacred day for dahi handi is on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, as per Dharma Shastra, with the timings starting after 3:38 p.m.
– Parana time will be after 12:45 a.m. on August 27, 2024.

Significance of Krishna Janmashtami

In Hindu mythology, Shri Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva, though he was raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Vrindavan. It is said that Lord Krishna was born in a prison, and his life was in danger as his uncle Kansa feared that Devaki’s son would destroy him. Kansa, who was a ruthless King, decided to kill all of Devaki’s children to ensure there was no threat to his life and legacy. Kansa made sure no child of Devaki survived by killing them one by one. He killed seven children of Devaki and Vasudeva. When it was time for the eighth child, Krishna, Vasudeva miraculously escaped the prison in Mathura and carried baby Krishna in a basket across the River Yamuna to Vrindavan, entrusting his friend Nanda and his wife Yashoda to raise and protect baby Krishna.

The celebration of Krishna Janmashtami

It is believed that Lord Krishna was born at midnight. And so, on this day devotees keep a fast through the day and later visit temples at midnight to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birth, showering their love and devotion to him.
Lord Krishna was fond of maakhan (butter). And so in many parts across India, a traditional sport called ‘dahi handi’ is celebrated on Janmashtami. For this, an earthen pot filled with maakhan is tied high up on a pole or rope, and children form a pyramid to break the handi and win prizes. This symbolises the mischievous yet sweet gesture of Bal Krishna who along with his friends would steal maakhan from other people’s homes.
People in Mathura celebrate Krishna Janmashtami with the same fervour as Deepawali. Mathura– the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and Vrindavan– the place where Krishan spent his childhood, is renowned worldwide for its Janmashtami celebrations. People from all over the world come to Vrindavan to immerse themselves in the festivities. Many devotees travel to Vrindavan and Mathura each year to be a part of this auspicious festival.
Every year devotees of Lord Krishna eagerly await this auspicious occasion. They celebrate it by observing a strict diet, visiting temples, singing and dancing to devotional songs, and dressing up their children as Krishna and Radha. Krishna Janmashtami is also celebrated in communities by reenacting the stories of Lord Krishna’s mischief and playful nature. Lord Krishna is a true idol of friendship, love, and protection. He is a divine energy who brings light into people’s lives.