Janmashtami – Significance of Gokulashtami Celebration, Date, and Rituals

Janmashtami or Krishna is celebrated as a Hindu festival to celebrate the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Gokulashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapada. This festival is specially celebrated in Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Dwarika. The celebrations include dances, races, dramas, devotional songs, fasting, etc. from the life of Krishna. It is also celebrated in different parts of India like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.

What is Janmashtami?

The festival known as Janmashtami marks the birthday of Lord Krishna and is celebrated with great pomp across the country.

The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the day marks the rebirth of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is considered an incarnation of Lord Narayana. The importance of Janmashtami can be understood by knowing its history, which is based on the birth of Lord Krishna.

It is believed that Krishna, the son of Devaki and Vasudev, was born in Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada, but his life was in danger from maternal uncle Kansa. After his birth, Krishna’s father took him across the Yamuna to Gokul where his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda lived. This mythological saga is celebrated on Janmashtami.

The idols of child Krishna are washed and dressed and placed in cradles. Devotees perform puja during the midnight hours which is part of the Shodashopachara ritual. During the Janmashtami fast, cereals are not consumed until the fast is broken after sunrise the next day. The rules to be followed during Ekadashi fast are the same.

Significance of Janmashtami

The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp in Hinduism. According to legends, Shri Krishna is one of the most powerful human incarnations of Lord Hari(Vishnu). Lord Krishna is one such God in Hindu mythology, about whose birth and death much has been written. Ever since Shri Krishna took birth on earth in human form, people have started worshiping him as the son of God.

Janmashtami Puja Date and Time

In the year 2024, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated for days on 26 August 2024.

According to the Hindu calendar, Ashtami Tithi will begin on August 26 at 03:39 am and end on August 27 at 02:19 am.

Rohini Nakshatra starts – 03:55 PM on Aug 26, 2024

Rohini Nakshatra ends – 03:38 PM on Aug 27, 2024

Midnight Puja Time – 12:00 – 12:45 (26 August 2024)

Duration – 45 minutes

Fasting Time – 27 August 2024, after 05.56 Minutes in the morning. According to beliefs, many people break the fast after the birth of Lord Kanha.

Janmashtami Puja Vidhi

• On the day of Janmashtami, wake up early in the morning, take a bath, etc., and observe the fast for the whole day.
• After this bathe the idol of Lord Krishna with Ganges water and milk.
• Then dress them in new clothes and make them wear Mor-Mukut, flute, Vaijayanti Mala, Tulsi Dal, Kundal, etc.
• Decorate the swing of Lord Krishna with garlands of flowers.
• After that offer fruits, flowers, Makhana, butter and sugar (Makhan Mishri), sweets, dry fruits, etc. to Lord Krishna while worshiping and light incense sticks.
• After this worship, Shri Krishna at midnight, swings on a swing and perform aarti.
• Distribute the prasad to everyone after the worship.

Wrapping Up

Janmashtami is one such festival, on the occasion of which people can think a little more than on other days. Shri Krishna is one of those personalities whom you can never forget. He is present in everything: from the king to the thief, from the master to the disciple, from the warrior to the one who runs away from the battle, from the one who takes responsibility to the one who shies away from responsibility, that is, He performed all aspects of existence. That’s why Shri Krishna is complete. Through online astrological consultation, you can know in detail about the importance of the Janmashtami festival, the auspicious time of Puja Vidhi and Anushthan Vrat.