Janmashtami 2024 Guide: Click to know dates and puja timings

Janmashtami, the joyous celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth, is set to be observed across India on Monday, August 26, 2024. This festival marks the 5251st birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and it holds religious significance. Believers across the country celebrate this day with great passion and devotion, seeking the blessings of Krishna through various rituals.

The story of Lord Krishna’s birth is nothing short of miraculous. Born to Devaki and Vasudev, Krishna came into the world under terrible circumstances. His uncle, the tyrant King Kansa, had imprisoned his parents in Mathura after a prophecy told that Devaki’s eighth child would be the cause of his downfall. Kansa had already killed seven of Devaki’s children, but when Krishna was born, Vasudev courageously carried the newborn across the turbulent Yamuna River to Vrindavan, where he entrusted him to Nanda and Yashoda. Krishna was raised by them, far from the hold of Kansa.

The celebrations of Janmashtami are especially vibrant in Mathura and Vrindavan, the places closely associated with Krishna’s early life. Temples are adorned with flowers and lights, and the air is filled with devotional songs and the retelling of Krishna’s life through dramatic performances and storytelling. The festival is also famous for the Dahi Handi event, which is celebrated on the following day, Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Krishna Janmashtami 2024: Date and Timings

• Krishna Janmashtami Date: Monday, August 26, 2024
• Nishita Puja Time: 12:01 AM to 12:45 AM, August 27, 2024
• Dahi Handi: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
• Ashtami Tithi Begins: 03:39 AM, August 26, 2024
• Ashtami Tithi Ends: 02:19 AM, August 27, 2024
• Rohini Nakshatra Begins: 03:55 PM, August 26, 2024
• Rohini Nakshatra Ends: 03:38 PM, August 27, 2024

Devotees often observe a one-meal fast on the eve of Janmashtami, leading into a full fast on the day itself. The fast is traditionally broken after the Nishita Puja, which is performed at midnight, believed to be the most auspicious time for worship.

As people prepare for Janmashtami, they are reminded of Lord Krishna’s teachings, which encourage living a life of righteousness and devotion. The festival not only commemorates his birth but also serves as a spiritual event that unites communities in celebration and reverence.