Janmashtami: Krishna’s birth at midnight

Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, at midnight, on the eighth lunar day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada in North Indian calendars, which is Shravana in amanta calendars.

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Why two dates appear

Krishna was born in Rohini nakshatra at midnight, so the festival looks for Ashtami at midnight, ideally together with Rohini. Smarta families keep the night when Ashtami is current at midnight. Vaishnava traditions, including ISKCON, generally keep the day when Ashtami is current at sunrise, with Rohini. In some years the two fall on consecutive days.

How it is kept

  1. Fasting Devotees fast through the day and break it after the midnight puja, or the next morning.
  2. Decorating the cradle Baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal) is bathed, dressed and placed in a decorated swing (jhula).
  3. Midnight puja At midnight the birth is celebrated with bhajans, conch shells and an offering of panchamrit and makhan-mishri.
  4. Dahi Handi The next day in Maharashtra, teams form human pyramids to break a pot of curd hung high above the street.

Mathura, where Krishna was born, and Vrindavan, where he grew up, hold the largest celebrations.