Janmashtami Vrat 2025: Date, puja muhurat, fasting rules, rituals & significance
Janmashtami, a significant Hindu festival, celebrates Lord Krishna's birth on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapada. Devotees observe it with fasting, varying from strict abstention to consuming only fruits and milk. The auspicious Nishita Kaal Puja is scheduled between 12:04 AM and 12:47 AM on August 16, 2025, followed by breaking the fast after sunrise on August 17.
Agencies Janmashtami, one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar, celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna — the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Observed nationwide, it falls on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the month of Bhadrapada.This year, Janmashtami will be celebrated on Saturday, August 16. Devotees mark the occasion with fasting to purify the body and mind. While fasting customs differ across regions and personal traditions, they are all rooted in devotion and reverence.
Krishna Janmashtami in 2025 will be observed on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. The Nishita Kaal Puja — regarded as the most auspicious time for worship — is scheduled between 12:04 AM and 12:47 AM on August 16, according to Drik Panchang. This sacred window aligns with the believed midnight birth of Lord Krishna.Timings may vary slightly across cities due to local lunar calculations, so devotees should consult their regional panchang for accuracy. The Parana (fast-breaking) is recommended on August 17 after sunrise, once both Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra have ended. Maintain cleanliness: Begin the day with a bath, clean your home, and ensure the puja area is spotless. Give the idols of Lord Krishna and Laddoo Gopal ji a ceremonial bath.
Take a sankalp (pledge): While fasting, make a conscious vow about your worship intentions. Spend the day chanting mantras and prayers.
Prepare homemade prasad: Offer sweets and dishes like peda, gheeya ki lauj, nariyal gajak, panjeeri, and other milk-based treats prepared at home.
Practice charity: Donate food, clothing, or money to those in need as an expression of goodwill and devotion.
Avoid non-vegetarian food: Refrain from consuming meat, fish, or eggs during this period, even if not fasting.
No alcohol or intoxicants: Abstain from alcohol, tobacco, or any addictive substances during the fast. Nirjala fast: The strictest form, where devotees abstain from both food and water until midnight — the believed time of Krishna's birth. The fast is broken after prayers and aarti.
Phalahar fast: A milder version allowing fruits, milk, and water. Devotees avoid grains, legumes, onions, and garlic, adhering to a sattvic (pure) diet. Janmashtami fasting is often accompanied by bhajans, prayers, and readings from the Bhagavad Gita or Krishna Leela. Many visit temples to witness grand celebrations of Krishna's birth. The fast is broken at midnight by first offering the prepared prasad to Lord Krishna and then partaking in it.
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