Festival guide
Krishna Janmashtami 2026
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
- Date
- Fri, 4 September 2026
- Main muhurat
- Nishita Puja Muhurat · 11:34 pm – 12:20 am (next day)
Plan the day
Good times and times to avoid
· Varanasi time (IST)
Auspicious windows
- Abhijit Muhurat50m
- Brahma Muhurta46m
- Amrit Kalam1h 30m
Times to avoid
- Dur Muhurta50m
- Rahu Kaal1h 34m
- Dur Muhurta50m
- Yama Gandam1h 34m
Sun and moon
- Sunrise
- 5:39 am
- Sunset
- 6:14 pm
- Moonrise
- 11:14 pm
- Moonset
- 12:31 pm
The festival day's almanac
Panchang for Fri, 4 September
- Tithi
- Ashtami, then Navami
- Nakshatra
- Rohini
- Yoga
- Harshana
- Karana
- Balava
- Paksha
- Krishna
- Masa
- Bhadrapada
- Tithi
- AshtamiFrom Until Then Navamiuntil
- Nakshatra
- RohiniFrom Until
Choghadiya, day and night
Day
- ChalNeutral
- LabhGood
- AmritGood
- KaalAvoid
- RogAvoid
- ShubhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ChalNeutral
Night
- RogAvoid
- KaalAvoid
- LabhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ShubhGood
- AmritGood
- ChalNeutral
- RogAvoid
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.
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