Krishna Janmashtami 2024
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada (Shravana in the amanta calendar), ideally with the Rohini nakshatra.
In 2024, Krishna Janmashtami is on Monday, 26 August 2024.
- Nishita kaal (midnight puja): 27 Aug 2024, 12:00 AM to 12:45 AM
- Krishna Ashtami begins: 26 Aug 2024, 3:39 AM
- Krishna Ashtami ends: 27 Aug 2024, 2:20 AM
Date and timings for New Delhi.
How the date is fixed
Krishna Janmashtami falls on Krishna Ashtami of Shravana (amanta) / Bhadrapada (purnimanta). The day is decided by the tithi prevailing at midnight (nishita kaal, the eighth muhurta of the night). When the tithi touches that time on two days, the day it covers more is used.
Calculated for New Delhi. Festival dates can differ by a day between cities and between regional traditions; your family priest's panchang has the final word.
How it is celebrated
Devotees fast until midnight, decorate a cradle for the infant Krishna, sing bhajans and break the fast after the midnight puja. In Maharashtra the next day is Dahi Handi. Smarta and Vaishnava (ISKCON) traditions sometimes observe it on different days.
Want a personal reading of your chart? Talk to an experienced astrologer.
Frequently asked questions
When is Krishna Janmashtami in 2024?
In 2024, Krishna Janmashtami is on Monday, 26 August 2024. (New Delhi)
Why do calendars sometimes show different dates for Krishna Janmashtami?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, which begins and ends at different clock times. Each festival has a rule about which part of the day the tithi must cover — sunrise, midday, dusk or midnight. When the tithi straddles two days, calendars that apply the rule for a different city, or a different tradition, can land on different days. We show the rule we used and the tithi timings so you can check.