- +91-7023509999
- 0294-6622222
- info@narayanseva.org
Whenever unrighteousness increases in the world, the Lord incarnates to protect righteousness and liberate devotees. In the Dwapara Yuga, when tyranny and unrighteousness reached their peak, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Shri Krishna and paved the way for the establishment of Dharma.
Lord Shri Krishna was born on the Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada, under the Rohini Nakshatra. Even today, His birth anniversary is a sacred occasion of faith and devotion for millions of devotees.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth festival of Lord Shri Krishna. It is also known as Shri Krishna Janmotsav and Gokulashtami. On this day, special prayers, bhajans, kirtans, and religious ceremonies are organized at Krishna temples across the country, including Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Dwarka.
In 2026, the sacred festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on Friday, September 4. On this day, devotees especially worship the child form of Lord Krishna, known as Laddu Gopal.
The auspicious time for Janmashtami Puja will be from 11:57 PM on September 4 to 12:43 AM on September 5. It is during this midnight period that devotees celebrate the divine birth of Lord Shri Krishna.
The Janmashtami fast will be broken after 6:01 AM on September 5, according to the given fasting tradition and auspicious timing.
| Date | Friday, 4 September 2026 |
| Festival | Krishna Janmashtami |
| Nishita Puja | 11:57 PM – 12:43 AM (New Delhi) |
| Dahi Handi | Saturday, 5 September 2026 |
| Deity | Lord Krishna |
| Tithi | Krishna Paksha Ashtami |
Kans, the son of King Ugrasena of Mathura, married his sister Devaki to Vasudeva. After the wedding, when Kans was taking his sister to her husband’s home, a divine voice from the sky announced that Devaki’s eighth child would be the cause of Kansa’s destruction.
Hearing this, Kans became frightened and imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva. One by one, Kans killed Devaki’s children. However, when Lord Shri Krishna was born as their eighth child, the prison doors opened of their own, and the guards fell into a deep sleep.
Vasudeva placed the newborn Shri Krishna in a basket and crossed the overflowing Yamuna to reach Gokul. In Gokul, Yashoda Ji gave birth to a daughter at the home of Nand Baba. Vasudeva placed Krishna beside Yashoda and brought the newborn girl back with him.
When Kansa tried to kill the girl, she transformed into Yogmaya and disappeared into the sky. Yogmaya warned Kansa that his destroyer had already been born.
Later, Shri Krishna was lovingly raised in Gokul by Nand and Yashoda as their own son.
Shri Krishna is a symbol of love, compassion, wisdom, and righteousness. In his childhood form, he is known as the playful Kanha and the beloved of the Gopis. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, he became Arjuna’s charioteer and imparted the teachings of Dharma and Karma to him.
Through the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Lord Shri Krishna showed humanity the path of Karma, devotion, and righteousness. His message teaches that one should never turn away from one’s duties and should continue performing righteous actions without worrying about the results.
Therefore, Janmashtami is not only a celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth but also an opportunity to bring his divine teachings into our lives.
The Janmashtami fast is a sacred observance made with faith and devotion toward Lord Shri Krishna. To observe the fast, devotees should take a bath in the morning, wear clean clothes, remember Lord Shri Krishna, and take a vow to observe the fast.
The type of fast should be observed according to one’s health and personal capacity. Those who are capable of observing a waterless fast may do so, while others may observe a fruit-based or sattvic fast.
According to religious tradition, devotees generally avoid grains and regular meals during the fast. Throughout the day, devotees can chant Lord Krishna’s name or listen to Krishna bhajans and kirtans.
In the evening, devotees should take a bath and prepare for the Janmashtami Puja. At midnight, after the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, devotees perform the Puja, Abhishek, Aarti, and offer Bhog.
Afterward, the fast should be broken according to one’s fasting tradition and the Parana time mentioned in the local Panchang.
While breaking the fast, devotees can accept the Lord’s Prasad and, if possible, offer food or donations to someone in need as an expression of their devotion.
On Janmashtami, devotees worship the child form of Lord Shri Krishna, known as Laddu Gopal. It is believed that Lord Krishna was born at midnight, which is why devotees traditionally perform the birth celebration and special Puja around midnight.
The Puja Vidhi is as follows:
Among Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes, his playful act of stealing butter is considered especially charming. Bal Gopal loved butter and curd. Along with his friends, he would steal butter from the homes of the Gopis. Because of this, he was lovingly called “Makhan Chor,” or the butter thief.
The Dahi Handi celebration is organized during Janmashtami to commemorate this beloved childhood pastime of Lord Krishna.
This tradition is especially celebrated with great enthusiasm in Maharashtra and Goa. A pot filled with curd or butter is hung at a height, and groups of young people form human pyramids to try to break it.
With the joyful chant of “Govinda Ala Re,” the entire atmosphere becomes filled with devotion to Lord Krishna.
| City | Nishita Puja |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 11:57 PM – 12:43 AM |
| Gurgaon | 11:58 PM – 12:44 AM |
| Mumbai | 12:14 AM – 1:01 AM |
| Jaipur | 12:03 AM – 12:49 AM |
| Noida | 11:57 PM – 12:42 AM |
| Bengaluru | 11:55 PM – 12:42 AM |
In Hindu scriptures and Indian religious traditions, charity and service have always been regarded as virtuous acts. Lord Shri Krishna also emphasized compassion and selfless service in human life.
Therefore, helping people in need on the sacred occasion of Janmashtami can be a beautiful way of expressing devotion to the Lord.
On this day, you can provide meals to needy families, support people who are helpless, or make an effort to bring happiness into the lives of those in need. Such acts of compassion are considered spiritually meaningful.
The divine can be experienced not only inside temples but also through serving people who need our support.
Janmashtami reminds us that whenever unrighteousness and darkness increase in life, the light of divine grace eventually appears. The life of Lord Shri Krishna teaches us that there is strength in love, victory in righteousness, and that selfless action makes life meaningful.
This Janmashtami, let us resolve to make the message of love and Dharma a part of our lives.
Welcome Laddu Gopal into your home, remember the name of Lord Krishna, serve those in need, and let go of our ego, anger, and negativity while lighting the lamp of love and humanity within.
And finally, while paying obeisance at the feet of Shri Krishna:
Krishnaya Vasudevaya Haraye Paramatmane.
Pranatah Kleshanashaya Govindaya Namo Namah.
Jai Shri Krishna!
Raksha Bhandan is holy festival of brother and sister love. It is celebrated all around the India. This festival beautifully express the depth of relationships and the values of life.
Shravan Purnima, which marks the conclusion of this sacred month, is a special festival that brings together devotion, faith, family love, and the spirit of service. On this day, worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is considered especially significant.
In Sanatan Dharma, Ekadashi Tithi is considered highly sacred for worshipping Lord Vishnu. Each of the Ekadashis observed throughout the year has its own religious significance. However, Putrada Ekadashi, which falls during the Shukla Paksha of Shravan Maas
