06/09/2026
Happy Birthday, Krishna (Janmashtami)
Lord Krishna's birthday, known as Krishna Janmashtami, is celebrated on September 4, 2026. The word Janmashtami literally translates to "Birth-Eighth" in Sanskrit, representing the exact time and nature of Lord Krishna's birth. Hindus celebrate Krishna as the eighth avatar (incarnation) of the god Vishnu. Legend says he was born at midnight in a prison in Mathura to save people from the evil king Kansa.
Devotees do not eat anything until midnight, the traditional time of his birth. They bathe small statues of baby Krishna with milk and water, then place them in decorated cradles. Young people form large human pyramids to break high-hanging pots
filled with curd and butter, mimicking Krishna's childhood. Communities stay awake late into the night to sing hymns and
chant prayers.
Yes, Krishna's birthday changes dates every year on the solar (Western) calendar, but it always stays on the exact same day on the Hindu lunar calendar. To give you an idea of how it shifts, here are the dates for recent and upcoming years:
• 2025: August 16
• 2026 (This Year): September 4
• 2027: August 25
