Janmashtami is a festival in Hinduism that celebrates the birth of the god Krishna. This year, Krishna Janmashtami is going to be celebrated on August 16, 2025 which is the 5252nd birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, with Dahi Handi falling on the same day. The Ashtami tithi begins on 15 August late night and continues into 16 August.

Why is Janmashtami Celebrated?

The Krishna Janmashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, one of the most popular deities worshipped by Hindus. He is thought to have been born in 3228 BC. He played a vital role in the Mahabharata and is known for spreading the message of dharma, karma, and bhakti. According to the Purnimanta tradition, Krishna’s birth is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in Bhadrapada Masa.

It is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. Krishna Janmashtami holds significant importance to Krishna bhakts as well as Hindus around the world, and it is celebrated in diverse forms depending on their regional and cultural customs. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing, praying together, preparing and sharing special food, night vigils, and visiting Krishna or Vishnu temples. The places of Mathura and Vrindavan are visited by pilgrims. Some mandirs organize recitation of Bhagavad Gita in the days leading up to Janmashtami. Many Northern Indian communities organize dance-drama events called Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila.

 The tradition of Rasa Lila is particularly popular in the Mathura region, in northeastern states of India such as Manipur and Assam, and in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is acted out by numerous teams of amateur artists, cheered on by their local communities, and these drama-dance plays begin a few days before each Janmashtami. People decorate their houses with flowers and light. On this day, people chant “Hare Krishna hare Krishna, Krishna- Krishna Hare Hare”. The Janmashtami celebration is followed by Dahi Handi, which is celebrated the next day.

How is Janmashtami Celebrated?

The celebration of Janmashtami is marked by a wide array of customs and rituals, reflecting the cultural diversity of India. From fasting to feasting, from quiet prayers to exuberant public performances, every aspect of Janmashtami is filled with devotion and joy.

1] Fasting and Midnight Vigil:

Devotees observe a fascinating and no water fast on Janmashtami, abstaining from grains and certain foods. The fast is broken only after midnight, following the ritual of worshipping the baby Krishna, who is cradled in a beautifully decorated swing. The midnight vigil, known as Jagran, is an integral part of the celebration, symbolising the devotees’ readiness to welcome the divine child into their lives.

2] Decorations and Celebrations in Temples and Homes:

Homes and temples are adorned with flowers, lights, and intricate rangolis. The idols of Lord Krishna are dressed in new clothes, and the cradle or jhoola is often a centre piece in households and temples.

Special Jhankis (tableaux) depicting scenes from Krishna’s life are set up in many temples, attracting large crowds of devotees. These Jhankis often include depictions of Krishna’s playful activities as a child, his interaction with the gopis (milkmaids), and the legendary Raas Leela.

3] Dahi Handi:

One of the most vibrant and exciting aspects of Janmashtami is the Dahi Handi event, which takes place on the day following Janmashtami. This event symbolizes Krishna’s playful and mischievous nature, earning him the name “Makhan Chor” or “Butter Thief “.

What is Dahi Handi and Why is it Important?

Dahi Handi is a traditional sport held mostly in Maharashtra, where human pyramids try to break a clay pot filled with curd or butter. It represents Krishna’s childhood when he used to steal butter with his friends (Makhan Chor).

Janmashtami is more than just a religious festival; it is a celebration of life, love, and the eternal bond between the divine and the devotee.   The event is based on the legend of the god Krishna along with his friends mischievously stealing butter and other curd from neighboring homes in Gokul as a child. He is also called Makhan chor or butter thief. The neighbor’s would try to avert his mischief by hanging the pots high out of his reach, but Krishna would find creative ways to reach them.

 The festival has also become a platform for social commentary, highlighting issues such as safety, youth empowerment, and community cohesion. In a rapidly urbanizing society, Dahi handi fosters a sense of belonging, bridging generational gaps through shared cultural experiences, making it relevant in today’s context while celebrating India’s rich heritage.

Festivities on the day

On the first day of the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami, activities culminate in a “Krishna puja,” a devotional form of worship using a form or an image, such as an idol of Krishna. After midnight, statues of Krishna are bathed in milk and water, dressed in new clothes and venerated in homes and temples. Devotees enjoy a celebratory meal after breaking the daylong fast.

In addition to fasting during the holiday, Krishna’s devotees sing songs called “bhajans,” or “kirtans,” dedicated to Krishna, reenact episodes from mythology about his life, known as “Krishna Lilas,” and perform folk dances, or “garbhas.”

In northern India, Krishna Janmashtami is followed the next day by a raucous and spirited event called “Dahi Handi,” loosely translated as “curds in an earthen pot.” Young men and boys imitate the childish pranks of “Makhan Chor,” an epithet given to Krishna in his beloved form during his childhood as a “butter thief.” Folklore is full of stories about Krishna and his childhood friends stealing sweetened butter from the village gopis, or cow herdesses.

To engage in the reenactment, a pot of sweetened butter and curds is suspended in midair, while teenage boys dressed as cowherds form human pyramids, climbing on each other’s backs to reach and break the pot, sharing the sweet yogurt within.

Krishna is believed to be eternally present. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reminds Arjuna that “he is not far from the soul – in fact he is closer than the closest.” For many, the commemoration of Krishna’s birth is a time to remember God’s abiding love and closeness, as well as to express gratitude for the freely given gift of grace.

Krishna Janmashtami transcends regional and cultural boundaries, uniting devotees from diverse backgrounds in celebration and devotion. It is a time of joy, reflection, and spiritual renewal, as people revere Krishna as the embodiment of divine love, wisdom, and compassion.