Janmashtami in India in 2024

Janmashtami in India in 2024
  How long until Janmashtami?
Janmashtami
  Dates of Janmashtami in India
2025 Aug 16
Andhra PradeshSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
AssamSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
BiharSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
ChandigarhSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
DelhiSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
GujaratSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
HaryanaSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
JharkhandSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
KeralaSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
MeghalayaSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
MizoramSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
NagalandSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
OdishaSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
PunjabSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
RajasthanSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
SikkimSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
TelanganaSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
UttarakhandSat, Aug 16Regional Holiday
2024 Aug 26
Andhra PradeshMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
AssamMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
BiharMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
ChandigarhMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
DelhiMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
GujaratMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
HaryanaMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
JharkhandMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
KeralaMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
MeghalayaMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
OdishaMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
PunjabMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
RajasthanMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
SikkimMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
TelanganaMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
TripuraMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
UttarakhandMon, Aug 26Regional Holiday
2023 Sep 6, Sep 7
ChandigarhThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
DelhiThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
GujaratThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
JharkhandThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
MeghalayaThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
OdishaThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
PunjabThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
RajasthanThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
SikkimThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
TelanganaThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
TripuraThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
UttarakhandThu, Sep 7Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
AssamWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
HaryanaWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
KeralaWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
OdishaWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduWed, Sep 6Regional Holiday
2022 Aug 18, Aug 19, Aug 20
TelanganaSat, Aug 20Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
AssamFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
BiharFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
ChandigarhFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
DelhiFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
GujaratFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
HaryanaFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
JharkhandFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
ManipurFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
MeghalayaFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
NagalandFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
PunjabFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
RajasthanFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
SikkimFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
TripuraFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
UttarakhandFri, Aug 19Regional Holiday
KeralaThu, Aug 18Regional Holiday
OdishaThu, Aug 18Regional Holiday
2021 Aug 30, Aug 31
TelanganaTue, Aug 31Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
AssamMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
BiharMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
ChandigarhMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
GujaratMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
HaryanaMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
JharkhandMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
MeghalayaMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
NagalandMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
OdishaMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
PunjabMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
RajasthanMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
SikkimMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
TripuraMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
UttarakhandMon, Aug 30Regional Holiday
  Summary

The birthday of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu who gave the message of the Bhagwat Gita

  Janmashtami in other countries
Janmashtami internationally
  Which regions observe Janmashtami in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday

When is Janmashtami?

Janmashtami is a Hindu festival and a Gazetted holiday in many regions of India.

It may be known as Gokulashtami or Sreekrishna Jayanthi in some regions.  ​According to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Shravana or Bhadra (in the Hindu calendar, there is a leap month once every three years).

In India, is a Gazetted holiday in Bihar, Chandigarah, Chattisgarah, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Miizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In Tamil Nadu, this holiday is known as Sri Krishna Jayanti.

History and Background of Janmashtami

This is one of the most important Hindu festivals, Janmashtami (Krishna Jayanti) is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu who gave the vital message of the Bhagwat Gita - the guiding principles for every Hindu.

Across India, there will be ceremonies and prayers at temples dedicated to Krishna. The day before may consist of fasting and prayer up to midnight, the time at which it was said that Krishna was born.

Krishna was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. In this region, a common tradition is the performance of Krishna Lila, a folk drama consisting of scenes from Krishna's life.

Many customs have developed in the different parts of India, all based on stories from Krishna's life. For instance, it is said that as a boy, Krishna loved butter and milk so much that they had to be kept out of his reach. This story is reflected in many climbing games for children.

  • In Tamil Nadu, oiled poles with pots of money tied to the top are set up. Boys dressed as Krishna then try to climb these poles to get the money while onlookers squirt water at them.
  • In Maharashtra, where the festival is known as Govinda, pots containing buttermilk are suspended high over streets. Teams of boys then form human pyramids competing against each other to see who can break the most pots.

Krishna

Many colourful legends tell of Krishna's life and he is a prominent figure in Hindu writings.

As a child, he is noted for his pranks such as the aforementioned butter stealing and images of him as a child often show him dancing joyously and holding a ball of butter in his hands.

As an adult, he is most commonly depicted as a dancer or a lover, often playing the flute and surrounded by adoring women. In one story, it is said that defeated the many-headed serpent Kaliya by dancing it into submission.

Lord Krishna has 108 names

Though we all have nicknames, Lord Krishna has a whopping 108 names! Some of his names include Govind, Mohan, Hari, Vasudeva, Shyam, Ghanshyam, and to name a few more! These names reflect in all the bhajans and hymns which devotees sing on Janmashtami!

Janmashtami Around the World

Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Hindus across the Indian subcontinent and beyond. In "A Janmashtami Journey", we take a whistle-stop tour around the world to look at how this great festival is celebrated.

In countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, and New Zealand, where there is a large community of Hindus, Janmashtami is celebrated. The day is marked with great fanfare and fervour in London, the US, and Poland and there is a unique temple in the Macau peninsula.


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