Krishna Janmashtami 2025: Puja muhurat, vrat vidhi, fasting & significance of gokulashtami
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, marks the joyous celebration of Lord Krishna's birth, an occasion deeply revered by devotees across the world. Falling on the Ashtami tithi of Krishna Paksha, it is observed with fasting, devotional singing, dramatic enactments of Krishna's life, and midnight puja.
The festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil and the nurturing of divine love. In 2025, Janmashtami holds special significance, with elaborate rituals planned in temples and homes alike, uniting communities in devotion, cultural performances, and festive cheer from dusk till dawn.
Puja muhurat
2025
Image: Canva
Krishna Janmashtami in 2025 will be celebrated on Saturday, August 15 and 16 this year. The Nishita Kaal Puja, considered the most auspicious moment of worship, will take place from 12:04 AM to 12:47 AM on August 16, as per Drik Panchang.
This period marks the symbolic birth of Lord Krishna, who is believed to have incarnated at midnight. City-wise timings may differ slightly based on local lunar calculations, so devotees are encouraged to refer to regional panchang calendars.
The Parana, or fast-breaking, is to be done on August 17 after sunrise, following the conclusion of Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra.
Vrat vidhi
The day starts off with a bath in the early morning and the promise of the fast and the midnight worship.
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Sins clean their worship area and place a picture or image of Bal Gopal (baby Krishna) decked with flowers, tulsi leaves and jewellery. A swing or a cradle is ready to celebrate the midnight. All through the day, the devotees partake of japa (chanting), bhajans and readings of the Bhagavad Gita or Bhagavata Purana. At midnight,mrking Shri Krishna's birth, his idol is ritually bathed in panchamrit (a combination of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar) and put on new clothes and presented with sweets, fruits and makhan-mishri.
There is aarti and rocking the cradle to receive the divine child and celebrate the end of the day.
Fasting guidelines
Janmashtami fasting is regarded as a sacred offering of devotion by many devotees. Some of them observe nirjala vrat, which means fastiing without having any food or water up to midnight and others have a phalahar diet that is fruits, milk, and light sattvik preparations. Typical food followed during vrat include sabudana khichdi, kuttu puri, fruits and homemade prasad.
The followers do not eat grains, onion, garlic, and intense spices, keeping both body and mind pure.
The following morning there is offering of food to Lord Krishna and in accordance with Parana one breaks the fast. The matter of health should be taken into consideration and those who cannot fast with rigidity can perform light fasting without breaking the mood of devotion.
Importance Of Gokulashtami
Image: Canva
Gokulashtami is a festival observing the birth of Shri Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura.
The core of Janmashtami celebrations is his childhood life in Gokul as an infant under the guardianship of Yashoda and Nanda, his mischievous leelas and the key role that he played in enlightening mankind through the Bhagavad Gita. The festival, to the spiritually-minded, symbolises righteousness triumphing over tyranny as represented by the defeat of Kamsa by Krishna.
The midnight celebration is a reminder of the divine arrival, bringing hope, joy, and the promise of protection to devotees.
Nandotsav and dahi handi
Image: Canva
The next day also of Janmashtami is celebrated in most parts to commemorate the celebrations of Nanda Maharaj at the birth of Krishna in the form of Nandotsav. In the state of Maharashtra and some sections of western India, the Dahi Handi ritual involves vociferous groups of young people creating a human pyramid to smash pots of curd milk or butter, re-enacting the childhood heroics of Krishna. It is a very popular event that involves devoutness and community engagement in music and dance.
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