Janmashtami 2025 – Date, Significance and Krishna Story
Among Indian festivals, Janmashtami holds special significance and spreads joy everywhere. The nation immerses in Krishna devotion. People celebrate Krishna Janmashtami on the eighth day of the Bhadrapada month. Lord Krishna was born as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Devotees worship Krishna as a playful child, lover, friend, politician, teacher and God.
When is Krishna Janmashtami?
Let us first talk about the date of Krishna Janmashtami in 2025. This year, people will celebrate Janmashtami on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Believers say Lord Krishna was born around 5,500 years ago. In Gujarat, people celebrate Janmashtami during the month of Sawan. Mathura, Vrindavan, Jagannath Puri, Dwarka and Badrinath witness grand celebrations.
- Shri Krishna Janmashtami Date – Monday, August 16, 2025
- Puja Time – 11:59 PM to 12:44 AM
Krishna’s Life Story
When unrighteousness increased on Earth, Lord Vishnu took a human form. Krishna was the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna did not incarnate only to kill Kansa. His purpose was to reestablish righteousness, and he did this with the Pandavas. Krishna was born in Kansa’s prison in Mathura. During heavy rains, people took baby Krishna to Gokul. Yashoda and Nandji raised him there. As Krishna grew up, he went to Mathura to kill Kansa. He freed his parents and grandfather from prison. Then his real journey began. He went to Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain to study. When the Kauravas committed atrocities, he supported the Pandavas. On the battlefield, he gave Arjuna the message of the Gita. He killed many demons and cruel kings and taught people to follow the path of righteousness.
How People Celebrate Janmashtami
Most parts of the country celebrate Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. People fast and visit Krishna temples. Most temples perform a special aarti at midnight. Devotees perform Krishna’s abhishek and Panchopachar puja. People recite the Gita, Shrimad Bhagavat and Bhagavat Purana at home. Many chant mantras like “Hare Ram, Hare Krishna” and “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.” In South India, people call this festival Gokulashtami. Devotees perform various rituals with special Krishna worship.
How You Can Perform Krishna Puja
On Janmashtami, perform abhishek of Krishna or Bal Gopal idol with water, milk, curd, honey and Panchamrit. Dress Krishna in yellow clothes. If you have Radha’s idol, decorate her too. Offer sweets to Lord Krishna. Light a pure ghee lamp near the deity. Recite Vishnu Sahasranama at home. After the special aarti at midnight, break your fast.
Krishna Worship Brings Planetary Peace
People say Krishna worship reduces the effects of ancestral curses. Vedic astrology also mentions that one should recite the Bhagavad Gita if afflicted by ancestral dosha in the birth chart. For Guru planet, chant ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ 1008 times. Vedic astrology uses this mantra for remedying almost every planetary defect.
- Other Mantras of Lord Krishna
- Om Govindaya Namah
- Om Kleem Krishnaya Namah
