Janmashtami 2025 Date: When is Krishna Janmashtami - August 15, 16 or 17?

Janmashtami 2025 Date: When is Krishna Janmashtami - August 15, 16 or 17?

Krishna Janmashtami 2025, celebrating the 5252nd birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, will be observed with great devotion across India and worldwide. This sacred festival marks the divine appearance of Shri Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, and is celebrated with midnight pujas, fasting, bhajans, and the famous Dahi Handi festival.

This year, Janmashtami falls on Saturday, August 16, 2025, with Nishita Puja (midnight worship) scheduled from 12:01 AM to 12:46 AM on August 17. Devotees eagerly await this auspicious night to offer prayers, sing kirtans, and remember the divine leelas of Shri Krishna.

Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Date and Time

Parana Time and Traditions

The Parana (breaking the Janmashtami fast) depends on the tithi and nakshatra timings. As per Dharma Shastra, the Parana in 2025 should be done after 6:05 AM on August 17, since Ashtami tithi ends before sunrise on that day.

However, according to modern traditions followed by many communities, the fast may be broken after the completion of the Nishita Puja, i.e., after 12:46 AM on August 17. Devotees are advised to follow their family or temple tradition when deciding the Parana time.

Krishna Janmashtami: Significance

Janmashtami is more than a festival, it is a spiritual reminder of Shri Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizing righteousness, devotion, and detachment from material desires. The celebrations include Jhulan Utsav (swing festival), reading sacred texts, and enacting Rasa Lila performances depicting Krishna’s childhood pastimes.

The next day, Dahi Handi festivities bring communities together as teams form human pyramids to break a clay pot filled with curd and butter, symbolizing Krishna’s playful nature as “Makhan Chor” (butter thief).