Janmashtami: Celebrating the Birth of Lord Krishna

2 min read · All India

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He was born at midnight on the eighth day (ashtami) of the dark half of Bhadrapada — usually in August or September — in a prison cell in Mathura, where his parents Devaki and Vasudeva were held by the tyrant king Kansa. That night, Vasudeva carried the newborn across the flooded Yamuna to safety in Gokul.

How Janmashtami is celebrated

Fasting until midnight: many keep a fast through the day and break it after Krishna’s birth at midnight.
The midnight birth: temples and homes bathe the idol of baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal) with milk, curd, honey and ghee, dress him in new clothes and place him in a decorated cradle, with bhajans, bells and conches.
Jhankis: tableaux of scenes from Krishna’s life — his birth, the crossing of the Yamuna, stealing butter, lifting the Govardhan hill.
Mathura and Vrindavan: the celebrations here last for days, with raslila performances and temples lit through the night.
Dahi Handi: the next day in Maharashtra, teams of govindas build human pyramids to break a pot of curd hung high above the street — remembering little Krishna, the butter thief.
Gujarat and the south: Dwarka’s temple celebrates grandly; in the south, as Gokulashtami or Sri Jayanti, small footprints are drawn from the door to the puja room, as if Krishna has walked in.

Dressing little Krishnas and Radhas

One of the sweetest sights of the festival: children dressed as Krishna — yellow dhoti, peacock feather, a flute — and Radha in a lehenga and dupatta, for school events and temple visits.

What to wear for Janmashtami

Krishna’s colours: yellow (pitambar — the yellow cloth he wore), peacock blue and green.
For the midnight puja: a light festive kurta set, comfortable for a long night.
For the monsoon: cotton and mulmul.

Browse our Janmashtami edit and our kids’ range.

Wear it for Janmashtami