Janmashtami is the eighth night of the waning Moon in Bhadra, when Krishna was born. Bengal's Krishna is above all Gopal, the infant, a member of the family who is woken, bathed, fed and put to bed each day in many homes. On his birthday the house fasts until midnight, and the offerings are sweets of the ripe palm fruit that is in season: taler bora and taler kheer. The next day is Nandotsav.
The story
Chaitanya made the love of Krishna the centre of Bengali devotion, and the Vaishnava lyric poets, Chandidas, Vidyapati, Jnanadas, Govindadas, gave it a literature. Their padavali is still sung as kirtan.
The Nandotsav on the following day recalls Nanda's joy at the news; in old Kolkata houses it was marked by a tug-of-war in mud and the breaking of pots.
হরে কৃষ্ণ হরে কৃষ্ণ কৃষ্ণ কৃষ্ণ হরে হরে । হরে রাম হরে রাম রাম রাম হরে হরে ॥
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
The mahamantra that Chaitanya gave to Bengal
How it is kept
- UpabasA fast until the midnight birth.
- Gopal sevaThe household image is bathed in panchamrita, dressed in new clothes and rocked.
- Taler boraPalm-fruit fritters, with malpoa, luchi and kheer.
- NandotsavGames and feasting the next day.
Why this date
Janmashtami is the Ashtami of the dark fortnight of Bhadra by the Bengali count, on the day it covers midnight.
Janmashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Bengali festivals
17 AugustRakhi Purnimaরাখী পূর্ণিমা
4 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiগণেশ চতুর্থী
18 JulyGuru Purnimaগুরু পূর্ণিমা
7 OctoberMaha Ashtamiমহাষ্টমী
14 JulyShayan Ekadashiশয়ন একাদশী
9 OctoberMaha Navamiমহানবমী
Where to see Janmashtami
In West Bengal
- MayapurWest BengalThe world headquarters of ISKCON, with a midnight abhishek watched by tens of thousands.
- BishnupurWest BengalThe terracotta temples of the Malla kings, built for Krishna.
- ShantipurWest BengalAn old Vaishnava town of Nadia, seat of Advaita Acharya.
Across India
- MathuraUttar PradeshThe birthplace, where the infant is bathed at midnight.
- PuriOdishaThe birth is celebrated in the temple of Jagannath.
- ImphalManipurManipur, converted by Bengali Vaishnavas, keeps the day at the Govindajee temple.