Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Krishna in Kamsa's prison.
Tithi: Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami, Rohini nakshatra (north) · Shravana Krishna Ashtami, Rohini nakshatra (west & south) — the same night
Which calendar do you follow?
The bright fortnight is named the same everywhere. A dark fortnight belongs to one month in the north and to the month before it in Maharashtra, Gujarat and the south — the same night, two true names. Saved only on this device.
In the simplest words
Krishna's birthday, at midnight! We fast, sing, rock baby Kanha's cradle, and some places build human pyramids to break the butter pot — just like he did.
The story & purpose
At midnight, in a locked prison, with the Yamuna in flood, the eighth child of Devaki was born — and the locks opened by themselves. Vasudeva carried the newborn across the river to Gokul, the serpent Shesha holding off the rain.
The day is kept with fasting until the midnight birth moment, then abhishek of Bal Gopal, bhajans till dawn — and in Maharashtra, human pyramids breaking the dahi handi next morning.
What is done
Vrat till Nishita
Fast through the day; the birth is honoured at solar midnight.
Bal Gopal abhishek
Panchamrit bath for the infant Krishna, new dress, cradle, makhan-mishri bhog.
Jaap & kirtan
Hare Krishna maha-mantra and the dvadashakshara through the night.
Best timings
Nishita kaal (midnight) is the birth muhurat; parana per family tradition next day.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition — for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Mathura and Vrindavan turn the whole fortnight into festival.
The 'chhappan bhog' — 56 dishes — recalls the seven days he held Govardhan without food, eight meals a day.
ISKCON and many Vaishnava temples keep the date by Rohini nakshatra, which can fall a day after the Smarta observance.
Mantras of this festival
Note: Smarta and Vaishnava reckonings split 4/5 September in 2026; most pan-India observance is on the 4th.