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Festival guide

Krishna Janmashtami 2024

कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी

Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

Ended
Date
Mon, 26 August 2024
Main muhurat
Nishita Puja Muhurat · 11:37 pm – 12:22 am (next day)

Plan the day

Good times and times to avoid

· Varanasi time (IST)

Auspicious windows

  • Abhijit Muhurat51m
  • Brahma Muhurta45m
  • Amrit Kalam1h 33m

Times to avoid

  • Rahu Kaal1h 36m
  • Yama Gandam1h 36m
  • Dur Muhurta51m
  • Dur Muhurta51m

Sun and moon

Sunrise
5:36 am
Sunset
6:22 pm
Moonrise
11:10 pm
Moonset
12:20 pm

The festival day's almanac

Panchang for Mon, 26 August

Tithi
Ashtami, then Navami
Nakshatra
Krittika
Yoga
Vyaghata
Karana
Balava
Paksha
Krishna
Masa
Bhadrapada
Tithi
AshtamiFrom Until Then Navamiuntil
Nakshatra
KrittikaFrom Until

Choghadiya, day and night

Day

  • AmritGood
  • KaalAvoid
  • RogAvoid
  • ShubhGood
  • UdvegAvoid
  • ChalNeutral
  • LabhGood
  • AmritGood

Night

  • ChalNeutral
  • RogAvoid
  • KaalAvoid
  • LabhGood
  • UdvegAvoid
  • ShubhGood
  • AmritGood
  • ChalNeutral

The story

Krishna Janmashtami: significance and rituals

He was born at midnight (nishita kaal) on Krishna Ashtami in the month of Bhadrapada, in a prison in Mathura.

Rituals

Fast the entire day. Decorate temples and homes with flowers. At midnight (nishita kaal), perform puja of baby Krishna, offer 56 types of food (chhappan bhog), swing the cradle, break the fast.

Fasting

Strict 24-hour fast, broken only at midnight after puja. Some observe nirjala (waterless) fast.

Local colour

Krishna Janmashtami in Varanasi

Janmashtami is celebrated with great fervor in Varanasi. The city's numerous Krishna temples host midnight celebrations. Dahi Handi events are organized at various ghats. The famous Janmashtami procession passes through Vishwanath Gali.

Keep exploring

More on Krishna Janmashtami