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Janmashtami 2026 Date — Friday, September 4, 2026

When is Janmashtami in 2026? Janmashtami 2026 falls on Friday, September 4, 2026.

Observance: Krishna Janmashtami. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.

Janmashtami 2026 — full list of dates

Janmashtami 2026 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Krishna JanmashtamiFri, 4 September 2026Midnight puja
Dahi Handi (Gopalkala)Sat, 5 September 2026Next day in Maharashtra
Radha AshtamiSat, 19 September 2026

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

  1. Decorate cradle (jhula); fast through day.
  2. Midnight abhishekam with panchamrit.
  3. Chant Vishnu sahasranama and Gita chapters.
  4. Break fast with prasad after puja.

Janmashtami dates by year

When is Janmashtami — 2025 to 2029
YearDate & day
2025Sat, 16 August 2025
2026Fri, 4 September 2026
2027Wed, 25 August 2027
2028Sun, 13 August 2028
2029Sat, 1 September 2029

Hindu festivals around Janmashtami 2026