Janmashtami Table of Contents Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Images Read Next Leap Day, February 29 6 Cultures That Recognize More than Two Genders What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World? Holi: Festival of Colors 22 Questions About Time and Timekeeping Answered Discover Why Is the Indy 500 Held on Memorial Day Weekend? Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs 12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written” The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online Why Is Pride Month Celebrated in June? Why New York Is Called "The Big Apple" and How 8 Other Famous Cities Got Their Nicknames Why Do Bananas Turn Brown? Contents Philosophy & Religion Religious Beliefs Janmashtami Hindu festival Actions Cite verified Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janmashtami Give Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. External Websites BBC Teach - Janmashtami: Why do some Hindus go without sleep for two days? Learn Religions - Hindu Festivals: Krishna Janmashtami Indianetzone - Janmashtami Print Cite verified Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janmashtami Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. External Websites BBC Teach - Janmashtami: Why do some Hindus go without sleep for two days? Learn Religions - Hindu Festivals: Krishna Janmashtami Indianetzone - Janmashtami Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: May 1, 2024 ? Article History Table of Contents Janmashtami Youths trying to reach a prize during Janmashtami celebrations, Maharashtra, India. (more) Janmashtami , Hindu festival celebrating the birth ( janma ) of the god Krishna on the eighth ( ashtami ) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August?September). The number eight has another significance in the Krishna legend in that he is the eighth child of his mother, Devaki. The occasion is observed especially in Mathura and Vrindavan (Brindaban), the scenes of Krishna’s childhood and early youth. On the preceding day, devotees keep a vigil and fast until midnight, the traditional hour of his birth. Then the image of Krishna is bathed in water and milk, dressed in new clothes, and worshipped. Temples and household shrines are decorated with leaves and flowers; sweetmeats are first offered to the god and then distributed as prasada (the god’s leftovers, which carry his favour) to all the members of the household. The devotees of Krishna commemorate the events of his birth by preparing elaborate representations of Mathura, where he was born, the Yamuna River , over which he was transported to safety, and Gokul (ancient Vraja), the scene of his childhood, using small images of the god, the other participants, and the animals and birds of the forest. Pots of milk are hung from tall poles in the streets, and men form human pyramids to reach and break the pots?this in imitation of Krishna’s childhood play with the cowherd boys, when they stole the curds hung out of reach by their mothers. The festival is also a time for group singing and dancing. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan .