Krishna Janmashtami 2009

Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna and is observed on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month as per traditional calendar followed in North India. The corresponding months in other region is the Shravan month. In 2009, the date of Janmashtami in North India is August 14 and in other parts it is on August 13.

The Sri Krishna Janmashtami is observed on different days in different parts of India and this is due to the differences in regional calendars and also due to the various calculations in the time of the birth of Krishna.

In 2009, Janmashtami is marked on August 14 in North India and Kerala. In other regions it is marked on August 14. The Smarta Tradition observes the festival on August 13 and the Vaishnava Tradition on August 14.

In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is famous for the Dahi Handi and the next day is observed as Gopalkala.

Special pujas are held in Sri Krishna Temples around the world. Special poojas and rituals are also held at midnight – the time of Krishna’s birth. Processions with tabloids depicting various episodes from the life of Shri Krishna enacted by children are a major highlight of the festival.

Staunch Krishna devotees fast on the day and it is a 24- hours fast.

How to celebrate or perform ritu

als on Sri Krishna Jayanti?

Sri Krishna Janmashtami or Sri Krishna Jayanti is mainly celebrated in Lord Krishna or Vishnu temples. Hindu spiritual organizations conduct numerous programs like discourses, dramas and processions on the day. In 2008, Sri Krishna Janmashtami is on August 23 (South India) and on August 24. The reason for two separate days can be found here.

If you plan to celebrate or perform rituals at home on the day, the ideal method will be to recite the mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’ This can be done while performing pujas or throughout the day.

Pujas involve offering flowers and performing Arati.

Reciting or listening to Srimad Bhagavad Purna or Bhagavatam is highly auspicious on the day.

Some devotees observe fast and spend time in temples or listening to discourses.

The main worship in temples takes place at midnight when Lord Krishna was born.

It must be remembered here that Lord Krishna is happy with anything that is offered to him in true devotion. Krishna was happy with sweat drenched beaten rice offered by Kuchela or Sudama. He was happy with the last leaf left in Draupadi’s Akaheyapatra. He was content with the gruel in Vidura’s (Dhritarashtra’s minister in Mahabharata) home.

So, one need not indulge in complex rituals to please Krishna. Just the japa ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ rendered devotionally is more than enough.