On the eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada, Hindus celebrate Janmashtami, the festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Krishna. Krishna is the reincarnation of lord Vishnu. Devotees observe a vigil and fast till the hour of his birth the day before. The statue of Krishna is then dressed in new clothing, given a bath in milk and water, and worshipped. Leaves and flowers are used to decorate temples and home shrines. People conduct Satyanaryan puja on this Janmashtami as lord Krishna is the reincarnation of lord Vishnu, and Satyanarayn puja is held to seek lord Vishnu’s blessings. 

If you plan to organise the religious ceremony on Janmasthmi, you could book pandit from SmartPuja for Satyanaryan puja in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata.

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Overview About Krishna Janmashtami

Janmashtami is a famous Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Lord Krishna’s birthday. It is the day of the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Krishna. The festival is also popularly known as ‘Krishnashtami’ and ‘Gokul Ashtami’. As per the Hindu calendar, this religious festival is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in Bhadon (July/August). The festival is also famous as ‘Govinda’, ‘Dahikaalaa’ and ‘Dahi Handi’. Followers offer milk and milk products to the idol of Lord Krishna. The festival also signifies the value of milk and milk products.

Krishna Janmashtami 2023 Date

In 2023 Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on 6 September and 7 September.

Krishna Janmashtami 2024 – 2029 Date

• In 2024 the celebration will take place on 26 August, Monday, and 27 August, Tuesday.
• In 2025 the festival will take place on 15 August, Friday, and 16 August, Saturday.
• In 2026 the festival will take place on 4 September, Friday, and 5 September, Saturday.
• In 2027 the festival will occur on 25 August, Wednesday, and 26 August, Thursday.
• In 2028 the festival will occur on 13 August, Sunday, and 14 August, Monday.
• In 2029 the festival will occur on 1 September, Saturday, and 2 September, Sunday.

Significance of Lord Krishna’s Birth

Lord Krishna, is the Hindu Lord of compassion, tenderness, and love. He is one of the most widely honored and famous Indian divinities, revered as the eighth embodiment of the Hindu god Vishnu and as the supreme God.

He was born in Mathura about 5,200 years ago. The main reason for the birth of Lord Krishna was to release the Earth from the evilness of demons. His role was significant in the Mahabharata and disseminated the theory of Bhakti and good karma which are explained elaborately in the Bhagwat Geeta.

Lord Krishna was born in Kansa’s (tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom) prison. His father Vasudev decided to handover Krishna to his friend Nand to save Him from the grip of Kansa. Krishna grew up in Gokul and killed the king Kansa.

Significance of Janmashtami

Bhagavad Gita, a sacred book of Hindu narrated by Lord Krishna, explains that whenever there will be a dominance of evils and lack of Godliness, Lord Krishna will reincarnate and destroy the evil to save the Earth. The key importance of Janmashtami is to appreciate honesty and to remove the dishonesty. Janmashtami also encourages unity and trust as the festival brings all together.

The day we commemorate Lord Krishna’s birth is called Janmashtami. Lord Krishna represents ecstasy and pure happiness. Everyone aspires to be intelligent. Hence, one with a clear idea of the element of bliss (Anand-tattva) is the supreme soul, or all-pervading one consciousness (Parmatma) is indeed wise. The Anand-tattva was the source of everything. It is Janmashtami’s unique message.

Astrological Significance of Krishna Janmashtami

The story of Lord Krishna’s birth is undoubtedly incredibly fascinating and alluring. He was born during the Krishna Paksha, or waning moon phase, in the Rohini Nakshatra of the Asthami tithi. According to the Hindu calendar, he was born in the month of Bhadrapada. As a result, these astrological calculations are used to determine the Sri Krishna Janmashtami dates and times.
Every time adharma started to rise in the world, his birth was meant to end the period of dharma. He is the defender who keeps the world from being destroyed by adharma and its adherents. Krishna killed Kansa because his bad acts had reached a pinnacle. Lord Vishnu, therefore, takes on various incarnations on this planet to restore the rule of dharma whenever the world is overtaken by chaos and horror.

Krishna Janmashtami Puja Muhurat

The Nishita Puja Muhurat for Janmashtami in 2023 is 11:42 PM to 12:29 AM, Sep 08
Parana Time as per ISKCON
Parana Time – after 05:55 AM, Sep 08
Ashtami Tithi starts at 03:37 PM on 6 September 2023
Ashtami Tithi Ends at 04:14 PM on 7 September 2023

Common Items Required For Puja

The below list consists of the most common items required for the Puja.

• New clothes, a bansuri (flute) and zewarat (ornaments) for Lord Krishna
• Shankha (conch shell)
• Pooja thali (a metal plate)
• Ghanta (bell)
• Chandan, Haldi,Laung, Wheat, Honey,
• Diya (earthen lamp), chawal (rice), Elaichi (cardamom),
• Supari (betel nut) and paan patta (betel leaves)
• Mauli thread
• Gangajal (Sacred water)
• Sindoor (vermillion paste)
• Agarbatti (incense sticks)
• Phool (flowers), Coconuts,
• Ghee (clarified butter)
• Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, Gangajal, honey and ghee)
• Artigranth (a holy book contains Shri Krishna’s Aarti)
• Mithai (sweets)

Krishna Janmashtami Puja Vidhi

• Meditate before starting Puja. Dhyana should be performed in front of the Lord Krishna statue that is already there in front of you.
• After doing Lord Krishna Dhyana, one should recite a mantra before the statue while making the Aavahan Mudra.
• After calling upon Lord Krishna, place five flowers by uniting the palms of both hands in front of the statue as a seat offering for Shri Krishna. 
• After giving Lord Krishna a seat, provide Him water so He can wash His feet.
• Give Krishna water to bathe in.
• Present Moli to Shri Krishna as fresh clothing and fragrance. 
• Now present Shri Krishna with jewellery, various aroma products, and flowers.
• Worship the deities that are components of Shri Krishna. Take Gandha, Akshata, and Pushpa with your left hand, and with your right hand, place them close to Lord Krishna Murti.
• Now present Shri Krishna with Dhupa, Deep, Naivedya, Paan with betel nuts, and Dakshina.
• Offer Aarti now and ask Shri Krishna to pardon you for whatever faults you may have made during the Puja.

Celebration of Janmashtami

Mathura and Vrindavan are the places where Lord Krishna spent his whole life, thus a grand celebration of the festival Janmashtami is observed in these places. The day is celebrated by beautifully decorating with lights and whole night prayers and mantras are chanted in the temples.

Fasting

The devotees keep fast for the whole day, and breaks their fast in the midnight after the holy birth of Lord Krishna. Some devotees take only milk throughout the day, as milk is known to be as the favourite food of Lord Krishna. Some ardent devotees prefer to take up dry fast throughout the day. Again, there are some devotees who keep fasting for two days.

Chanting

Devotional songs are sung on the day as a part of the ritual and special shlokas and mantras are chanted to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna. With the chanting of mantras, Aarti is offered to the Lord. The chanting of the 108 names of Lord Krishna is performed and the idol of Krishna is showered with flowers. A beautiful devotional environment is thus created on that day everywhere.

Swings

Devotees also tie swings on the trees for the child Lord Krishna as it is believed that He loves to swing. This ritual is very popular in the rural part and also everywhere in India.

Preparation of sweets

Devotees prepare delicious sweets made out of milk to please Lord Krishna, as it is believed that Lord Krishna loved milk sweets. There are many popular stories of Lord Krishna stealing sweets from the houses of His admirers.

Celebration in the Vaishnava Temple

In the Vaishnava temples the celebration starts before sunrise and continues till the midnight when Lord Krishna was born. The celebration includes Kirtans (devotional song) and japa (prayers). Some devotees prepare more than hundred food items, while others decorate the idol of Lord Krishna with flowers and decorate the temple with garlands and lights. The devotees perform Krishna Abhishek by bathing the idol of Lord Krishna with various liquids, like Panchamrit and Gangajal. The priest finally uncovers the idol of Lord Krishna beautifully dressed and devotees perform Kirtans.

Celebrating Dahi Handi

Dahi Handi (pot of curd) is celebrated on the next day of Janmashtami, which signifies the action of stealing of butter by Lord Krishna. Dahi Handi, an earthen pot containing ghee, dry fruits and milk is hung at a height. A group of youth challenges among themselves to break these vessels by forming human pyramids. This festival inspires team activity and the importance of physical fitness, agility and other physical and psychological skills. The human pyramids are beautiful to watch.

“Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power and morality.”

– From Bhagavad Gita 18.78, Srila Prabhupada

Janmashtami Celebrations Around the World

The whole country comes together enthusiastically to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday. You can see children in the attire of Krishna, markets filled with gorgeous handis and sweet shops, people getting ready for plays, and temples embellished with flowers. At Hindu temples, verse narration from the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita are organized.

Let’s look at how Janamasthmi is celebrated in different parts of India.

Mathura-Gokul-Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

For those who want to celebrate Janmashtami away from home, the three locations linked to Krishna’s early years are Gokul, Mathura, and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. The 400 temples in Mathura, where Lord Krishna was born, are all magnificently decked at this time of year. At all three of these locations, welcomes to Krishna with the recitation of shlokas, performances of the fireworks, Raas Leela, and jhulotsava. Just ten days before the birthday, festivities start.

Udupi, Karnataka

In Udupi, Karnataka, the people perform Rass Leela, a dance drama. The chariot pulling the idol of the lord is pulled across the city. Curd-filled earthen pots are hung from gopuras and then broken with sticks. With local competitions where participants dress in traditional attire, Huli Vesha dancers are a major draw during the festivities. In temples, pandits sing devotional songs and distribute food to the worshippers.

Imphal, Manipur

Janmashtami draws a sizable crowd of worshippers to Mahabali Temple and Sri Govindjee Temple. Devotees keep Fast and worship Lord Krishna in the temple by offering flowers. In Manipur, many folk dance performances are organized.

Mumbai-Pune, Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, this day is celebrated with competitions for smashing a high-hung earthen pot that contains yoghurt, milk, water, and fruits. Youth organise groups to compete with one another by hitting the high-hung pot and shattering it, as lord Krishna did during his childhood. Then, gifts and awards worth up to Rs. 12 lacks are given to the winners.

Puri, Odisha

People in Odisha chant “Hare Krishna” and “Hari Bol” while observing fast until midnight, the period of Krishna’s birth. The temples are exquisitely decked, with the recitation of religious music and the Bhagavad Gita. A variety of desserts are cooked at home and shared with everyone.

Dwarka, Gujarat

Makhan Handi, which means “an earthen pot filled with butter” in English, is celebrated on this day in places like Dwarka in Gujarat. 

Conclusion

The Hindu deity Lord Krishna symbolises kindness, gentleness, and love. He is the eighth manifestation of the Hindu divinity Vishnu, making him one of the most well-known and universally revered Indian deities. 

Krishna Janmashtami commemorates Lord Krishna’s birth on earth. It is celebrated with great zeal and devotion. People perform puja at home on this day to worship lord Krishna and seek his blessings. To perform the puja, you could book the pandit from SmartPuja and choose pandits from different parts of India at the lowest price on the market. After scheduling the pandit, we take care of all the puja samagris and preparations.

What more are you holding out for? To learn more about the booking process and specifics, contact Vedic Professionals.

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