Vaishnava festival
Janmāṣṭamī: the birth of Krishna
The night Krishna appeared in this world. It is the biggest festival of the Vaishnava year.
What is celebrated
Janmāṣṭamī celebrates the appearance of Krishna, about five thousand years ago, in the city of Mathura. The name says it: janma is birth and aṣṭamī the eighth day of the waning fortnight, which is when it happened.
He was born at midnight, in the prison where King Kaṁsa had locked up His parents, Vasudeva and Devakī. That same night, while the guards slept and the doors opened by themselves, Vasudeva crossed the river Yamunā with the child in his arms and left Him safe in the village of Gokula, with Nanda and Yaśodā.
Devotees do not say that Krishna “was born” but that He “appeared”: God does not begin to exist, He reveals Himself.
How it is celebrated
- Devotees fast all day, until midnight.
- Temples are decorated with flowers and garlands, and the singing goes on without a break.
- In the evening the forms of Krishna are bathed with milk, yoghurt, honey and rosewater, in the ceremony called abhiṣeka.
- At midnight the main ārati is held and then the fast is broken with a feast.
- The next day is Nandotsava, the festival with which Nanda celebrated the birth, and also the appearance day of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
In 2026 it falls on 4 September 2026, according to the calendar calculated for London. In 2027 it will be on 25 August 2027. Vaishnava dates follow the moon and change every year: check them in the calendar. Each temple organises its own programme; ask at your nearest one.