Krishna Janmashtami 2023: Everything You Need to Know About the Celebration of Krishna’s Birth

Krishna Janmashtami is a wonderful Hindu festival that holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. People in India and worldwide celebrate it with lots of love and devotion. People from India and beyond come together with deep faith and excitement to honor him.

This festive occasion usually falls in the Hindu month of Shravan, typically in July or August. But this year, in 2023, something rare and exciting is happening — Janmashtami is taking place in September, making it even more special.

Janmashtami Date for 2023

Janmashtami is a special Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. It’s even more special this year because it marks his 5250th birth anniversary. The main day of celebration, Janmashtami, falls on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. After that, there’s another fun event called Dahi Handi on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

So, Janmashtami lasts two days this year, making it even more exciting. People celebrate it in different ways, and it has various names like Ashtami Rohini, Gokulshtami, Krishnashtami, Sree Jayanthi, and Sri Krishna Jayanti, depending on where you are in India. It’s a time for joy and festivities to honor Lord Krishna’s birth.

Janmashtami Timings for 2023

To make the most of Janmashtami, it’s important to know the special times for the festival.

The “Ashtami Tithi,” the eighth day of the lunar month, begins at 3:37 PM on September 6, 2023, and ends at 4:14 PM on September 7, 2023. This period is significant for Janmashtami celebrations.

There’s also something called “Rohini Nakshatra,” an important celestial alignment. It starts at 9:20 AM on September 8, 2023, and ends at 10:25 AM on September 9, 2023. These timings are important for planning rituals and festivities related to Janmashtami.

Reasons for Celebrating Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is a special Hindu festival because it celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. It’s also a way to remember how he defeated a bad king named Kansa.

Kansa was a powerful and wicked king in ancient India. He was Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle. According to the story, there was a prophecy that Kansa would be killed by the eighth child of his sister, Devaki, and her husband, Vasudeva. Fearing this prophecy, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, cruelly killing their first six children as soon as they were born.

However, a series of extraordinary events unfolded when Lord Krishna was born as their eighth child. To protect Krishna from Kansa, Vasudeva secretly carried the newborn baby across the river to the village of Gokul, where he was raised by another family, Yashoda and Nanda.

As Krishna grew up, he performed many miraculous deeds and showed his divine powers. Eventually, he returned to Mathura, the kingdom ruled by Kansa. He defeated Kansa in a dramatic showdown, marking the victory of good over evil. Krishna’s bravery and righteousness are celebrated during Janmashtami as a reminder that goodness and justice will always prevail.

So, Janmashtami is not only Lord Krishna’s birth but a happy time to remember that good things can win over bad things.

How People Celebrate Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated differently in different parts of India. But even though the way people celebrate may be different, there are some things that everyone does in common to celebrate this special day.

Fasting and Prayers

People celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in different ways depending on where they are, but there are some common things. Many devotees choose to fast, so they don’t eat for a certain period. They pray, sing special songs called bhajans, and read from a sacred book called the Bhagavad Gita. It’s like a time of deep spiritual reflection.

Ceremonial Bathing

There’s a special ritual called “Abhisheka.” This is when they ceremonially bathe the idol of Lord Krishna with special things like milk. It’s a way of showing respect and love to the deity.

Midnight Celebration

A big moment is when it’s midnight. This is when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. Temples across the country have special ceremonies at this time. They unveil the idol of Lord Krishna, and he’s dressed in beautiful clothes. It’s a very exciting and important moment.

Decorations Everywhere

Homes and temples get all dressed up for the occasion. They put colorful decorations everywhere to make everything look festive and beautiful.

Dahi Handi Tradition

One really fun tradition is called “Dahi Handi.” People form human pyramids to reach and break a pot filled with buttermilk that’s hung up high. It’s like a big game and a lot of fun to watch.

So, Janmashtami is a time of fasting, prayer, special rituals, midnight celebrations, decorations, and fun traditions like Dahi Handi. It’s all about showing love and devotion to Lord Krishna.

Janmashtami Celebrations Across India

Janmashtami is celebrated in different ways in various parts of India. Here are some special places where the festival is a big deal:

Mathura

Mathura, known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is a place of immense significance during Janmashtami. This city boasts around 400 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. During the festival, devotees gather in these temples to chant sacred verses, enact stories of Krishna’s childhood, known as Raas Leela, light fireworks, and joyfully participate in the jhulotsava or swing festival. These customs create a lively and spiritually charged atmosphere, making Mathura one of the most vibrant places to celebrate Janmashtami.

Vrindavan

Vrindavan is near Mathura, where Lord Krishna spent much of his childhood. This town holds a special spot in Janmashtami celebrations because of its close connection to Lord Krishna’s early years. Interestingly, the festivities in Vrindavan start ten days before the main Janmashtami day.

During these ten days, people decorate the temples with many fresh and beautiful flowers. They also light up colorful lights, making the place look pretty and captivating.

People who love Lord Krishna come from all over to Vrindavan during this time. They do all sorts of special rituals and celebrations to show their love and respect for him. It’s like a big, joyful party that lasts several days, all to honor Lord Krishna’s special presence in this sacred town.

So, Vrindavan becomes a place filled with colors, flowers, and lights as people come together to celebrate and remember Lord Krishna’s early days during Janmashtami.

Gokul

Gokul, where Lord Krishna was taken from the menacing King Kansa for safety, observes Janmashtami a day after the primary celebrations. Devotees in Gokul gather to sing hymns, recite mantras, and participate in traditional rituals. This delayed celebration marks a significant moment in the Krishna Janmashtami story, emphasizing the protective love and devotion of the people of Gokul.

Dwarka

Dwarka, where Lord Krishna ruled as a king, hosts an extensive month-long Janmashtami Utsav or festival. Temples throughout the city conduct Mangal aarti and other religious ceremonies during this period. The town is filled with devotion and spirituality as devotees come together to celebrate Lord Krishna’s life and teachings in his cherished kingdom.

Udupi, Karnataka

In the southern region of India, particularly in Udupi, Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Here, people engage in dance-drama events known as Vittal Pindi or Rass Leela, depicting stories from Lord Krishna’s life. The city also features ornate temple towers called Gopuras, earthen pots filled with curd, and Huli vesha dancers in colorful costumes, creating a visually stunning and culturally rich celebration.

Imphal, Manipur

In Manipur, the Mahabali Temple and Sri Govindjee Temple see a significant influx of devotees during Janmashtami. The celebrations here include fasting, offering floral tributes, showcasing traditional folk dance performances, and singing religious songs. These rituals are integral to the festivities in Manipur, where Lord Krishna’s divine presence is deeply revered.

Mumbai-Pune, Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s Janmashtami celebration is marked by the Dahi-Handi competition, a lively and competitive event where teams form human pyramids to break high-hung pots filled with yogurt, milk, and fruits. This tradition resonates with Lord Krishna’s mischievous nature as a child when he would steal butter. The atmosphere is filled with excitement, and it’s a popular and crowd-pleasing activity in the region.

Puri, Odisha

In Puri, Janmashtami is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm. People fast until midnight and chant special prayers such as “Hare Krishna” and “Hari Bol.” They also recite verses from the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text. Temples in Puri are adorned with beautiful decorations, and various sweets are prepared and distributed among devotees, creating a spiritually enriching and joyous celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth and teachings.

All these different ways of celebrating Janmashtami show India has a rich and colorful culture. People still love and follow Lord Krishna’s teachings, making them happy and devoted.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

When is Krishna Janmashtami 2023?

Janmashtami in 2023 is on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

Why do we celebrate Lord Krishna Janmashtami?

We celebrate Janmashtami to remember and honor the birth of Lord Krishna. He’s a special form of Lord Vishnu, and it’s also a way to remember how good things can beat bad things.

What are the timing details for Janmashtami in 2023?

The Ashtami Tithi starts on September 6, 2023, at 3:37 PM and ends on September 7, 2023, at 4:14 PM. The Rohini Nakshatra starts on September 8, 2023, at 9:20 AM and ends on September 9, 2023, at 10:25 AM. These are important times for Janmashtami.

Where is the birthplace of Krishna?

Lord Krishna was born in a place called Mathura, which is in the northern part of India.

When is Janmashtami 2023?

I mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth repeating: Janmashtami in 2023 is on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

What was the Mathura Janmashtami 2022 date?

Janmashtami in Mathura in 2022 happened on Monday, August 22, 2022.