File:Yesoda-krishna.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Krishna Janmashtami
Sign in to saveAlso known as Janmashtami, Krishna Jayanti
Annual commemoration in India on account of birth of the Hindu deity Lord Krishna
Key facts
- Also called
- Krishnashtami Krishna Jayanti Gokulashtami Yadukulashtami Srikrishna Jayanti Ashtami Rohini
- Observed by
- Hindus
- Type
- Religious (1–2 days), cultural
- Significance
- Commemorates the descension of Lord Krishna
- Celebrations
- Dahi Handi / Nandotsava (next day in the north), kite-flying, drawing footprints of infant Krishna, fasting, traditional sweet dishes, etc.
- Observances
- Dance-drama, puja, night vigil, fasting
- Date
- Shraavana Krishna Ashtami, Bhadra Krishna Ashtami
- 2025 date
- 16–17 August
via Wikipedia infobox
~17 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Krishna Janmashtami (Sanskrit: कृष्णजन्माष्टमी, romanized: Kṛṣṇajanmāṣṭamī), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In the prominent Hindu scriptures, such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Gita Govinda, etc. Krishna has been identified as the supreme God and the source of all avatars. Krishna's birth is celebrated and observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in Shravana Masa (according to the amanta tradition) or Bhadrapada Masa (according to the purnimanta tradition).
This overlaps with August or September of the Gregorian calendar.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Krishna Janmashtami” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.