Janmashtami 2016 Date — Thursday, August 25, 2016
When is Janmashtami in 2016? Janmashtami 2016 falls on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
Observance: Krishna Janmashtami. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.
Janmashtami 2016 — full list of dates
| Observance | Date & day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Krishna Janmashtami | Thu, 25 August 2016 | Midnight puja |
| Dahi Handi (Gopalkala) | Fri, 26 August 2016 | Next day in Maharashtra |
| Radha Ashtami | Fri, 9 September 2016 |
Why we celebrate
Birth of Krishna at midnight in Mathura prison — avatar of Vishnu who delivered Bhagavad Gita.
How it is celebrated
Fasting, midnight abhishekam, dahi-handi, jhulan, temple tableaux, bhajan.
Puja timing
Fast until midnight Nishita puja when Krishna was born; abhishekam at exact birth moment (tradition varies by sampradaya).
Foods & offerings
Makhan, panchamrit, fruits; no grains until after midnight puja. Chappan bhog in temples.
Rituals
- Decorate cradle (jhula); fast through day.
- Midnight abhishekam with panchamrit.
- Chant Vishnu sahasranama and Gita chapters.
- Break fast with prasad after puja.
Janmashtami dates by year
| Year | Date & day |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Sat, 5 September 2015 |
| 2016 | Thu, 25 August 2016 |
| 2017 | Tue, 15 August 2017 |
| 2018 | Mon, 3 September 2018 |
| 2019 | Sat, 24 August 2019 |
Hindu festivals around Janmashtami 2016
- Dahi Handi 2016 date — Fri, 26 August 2016
- Raksha Bandhan 2016 date — Thu, 18 August 2016
- Hartalika Teej 2016 date — Sun, 4 September 2016
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2016 date — Mon, 5 September 2016
- Varalakshmi Vratam 2016 date — Fri, 12 August 2016
- Nag Panchami 2016 date — Sun, 7 August 2016
- Onam 2016 date — Wed, 14 September 2016
- Hariyali Teej 2016 date — Fri, 5 August 2016
- Anant Chaturdashi 2016 date — Thu, 15 September 2016
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2016 date — Fri, 30 September 2016
- Sharad Navratri 2016 date — Sat, 1 October 2016
- Guru Purnima 2016 date — Tue, 19 July 2016
