In India, holidays are calculated according to the Vedic calendar. In Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, this is the lunar month of Sharavana. In this month, we honor Lord Krishna‘s birthday. According to mypanchang.com we celebrate Krishna Janmashtami 2024 on the night of August 25th into the 26th in North America, South America, and Europe and on the night of August 26th into the 27th in India.
In the U.S., you celebrate on the night of the 25th and stay up till at least midnight (when the date is the 26th) and celebrate Krishna’s birth. Krishna was born at midnight. His birth tithi is ashtami and his birth nakshatra is Rohini.
The word janma translates as “birth”. Ashtami (ush-tuh-me) is the 8th phase of the Moon. Krishna Janmashtami 2024 is celebrated on the 8th phase of the waning Moon in Vedic astrology. The Moon should also be in the nakshatra of Rohini in Taurus. The Moon is considered to be exalted or at its greatest point of strength in Rohini.
As we celebrate Krishna Janmashtami 2024, we are honoring the birth of our beloved Krishna, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was a cowherd in this particular incarnation. Krishna was born in the town of Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh on a stormy midnight over 5,000 years ago. Drik Panchang states that Krishna Janmashtami 2024 is his 5251st birthday. So, we celebrate his birth at midnight. He is said to have taken birth to rid the world of evil.
The sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita features a dialogue between Shri Krishna and his devoted disciple, Arjuna, regarding proper dharma, or right moral conduct. One well-known quote attributed to Krishna is: “It is better to strive in one’s own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another. Nothing is ever lost in following one’s own dharma. But competition in another’s dharma breeds fear and insecurity.”
There are many traditional steps followed in the worship for Krishna’s birthday. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Krishna Jayanti, Krishna Jayanthi, Gokulashtami or Rohini Ashtami.
Krishna devotees traditionally fast during the day or refrain from eating grains. Often food is made from sabudana or tapioca. If you are fasting, you should fast on the 25th (Sunday) in North America, South America, Africa, and Europe. If you are in India, or other parts of Asia, or Australia, you should fast on the 26th (Monday).
They stay up till midnight celebrating Krishna’s life. Plays are re-enacted depicting snippets of Krishna’s life and his glory. Devotees take turns gently pulling the string attached to the jhula or swing on which a statue of Krishna is seated. Krishna bhaktas adorn statues of Lord Krishna with colorful new clothes and worship him.
Krishna temples worldwide are packed with worshipers. Many mandirs (temples) will perform an abhishek (ritual bath) to a statue of Krishna and have devotees participate in the ritual. They chant bhajans or devotional songs to Shri Krishna and lose themselves in the bliss of ecstasy during the chants. One traditional chant which is sung is “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna”.
They break their fast at midnight when both Rohini nakshatra and Ashtami tithi have ended and enjoy a glorious feast to celebrate the birth of Krishna.
You may find puja timings for Krishna Janmashtami 2024 can be found on Drik Panchang. Please note that it displays the date of Janmashtami as the date following midnight, so you’ll see the 26th for North America and the 27th for India. Your location should auto-populate, but if it doesn’t, then you can type in the location.
Worshippers also can offer tulsi attar or essential oil placed on a cotton ball to a statue of Krishna. The tulsi mala is used to worship Lord Krishna, as is the tulsi plant.
Baby Krishna (or “Bala Krishna”) was a playful, mischievous child. He had great enthusiasm for life. Thus, his birthday is celebrated with a great deal of mirth and merriment. Krishna is also associated with bhakti or devotion. Krishna devotees lovingly shower Krishna with their devotion on his birthday of Krishna Janmashtami. Shubh Krishna Janmashtami 2024! Jai Shri Krishna!