About Janmashtami
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. Devotees fast through the day, decorate a cradle for Bal Gopal and break the fast after the midnight puja. In Maharashtra the next day is Dahi Handi. Some Vaishnava traditions (such as ISKCON) may observe it a day later.
How the date is decided
Janmashtami falls on Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapada (purnimanta), at midnight when Lord Krishna was born. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 4 September 2026.
Other festivals around this time
Raksha Bandhan · Ganesh Chaturthi · Onam
Dates follow the panchang for New Delhi (IST), worked out from the positions of the Sun and Moon; tithi times are shown in IST. Some regions and traditions observe a festival a day earlier or later, so check with your family priest or local temple for rituals.