Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Date and Time: Janmashtami Puja Muhurat, Nishita Puja Time, Dahi Handi and Rituals

Krishna Janmashtami 2025 will be celebrated on Friday, August 15, 2025, across India. As per Hindu Panchang, Krishna Janmashtami marks the divine birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura. This will be 5252nd birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Janmashtami 2025 puja date and timings is provided below for the reference of the devotees:

Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Date and Time

The auspicious Krishna Janmashtami Nishita Puja Muhurat falls between 12:04 AM and 12:47 AM on August 16, lasting for 43 minutes, with the midnight moment—considered the divine birth time of Krishna—at 12:26 AM. The Chandrodaya (moonrise) will occur at 10:46 PM on Krishna Dashami. Ashtami Tithi begins at 11:49 PM on August 15 and ends at 09:34 PM on August 16. The Krishna Janmashtami fasting can be break after 05:51 AM the next morning following Deva Puja and Visarjan.

The following day, Saturday, August 16, 2025, will witness vibrant Dahi Handi celebrations, where teams form human pyramids to break earthen pots filled with curd, symbolizing Krishna’s playful nature. ISKCON temples will also celebrate Janmashtami on August 16 with devotional kirtans, bhajans, and cultural programs.

Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Nishita Puja Time: City-Wise List

The Nishita Puja, considered the most auspicious time to worship Lord Krishna on Janmashtami, falls during midnight when, according to Hindu belief, Lord Krishna was born. For Krishna Janmashtami 2025, the Nishita Puja timings vary slightly across cities in India. In New Delhi, devotees can perform the puja from 12:04 AM to 12:47 AM on August 16, while in Mumbai the muhurat will be 12:20 AM to 01:05 AM. Chennai observes it from 11:51 PM on August 15 to 12:36 AM on August 16, and Kolkata has a unique window from 11:19 PM on August 16 to 12:03 AM on August 17. Other cities include Pune (12:17 AM – 01:02 AM), Jaipur (12:10 AM – 12:53 AM), Hyderabad (11:58 PM – 12:43 AM), Gurgaon (12:05 AM – 12:48 AM), Chandigarh (12:06 AM – 12:49 AM), Bengaluru (12:01 AM – 12:47 AM), Ahmedabad (12:22 AM – 01:06 AM), and Noida (12:03 AM – 12:47 AM).

Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Rituals, Puja Vidhi, and Mantras

On Krishna Janmashtami 2025, devotees observe the day with strict fasting, devotion, and elaborate rituals to honor the birth of Lord Krishna. The puja vidhi begins with cleaning the puja area and adorning it with flowers, rangoli, and a beautifully decorated cradle for baby Krishna. An idol or picture of Bal Gopal (infant Krishna) is bathed in panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar), dressed in new clothes, and adorned with ornaments. Devotees offer tulsi leaves, makhan (butter), fruits, sweets like panjiri and laddoos, along with incense and lamps. The Nishita Puja is performed at midnight, the divine time believed to be Krishna’s birth hour, with devotees singing bhajans and kirtans.

During the puja, special mantras are chanted for divine blessings, such as

“Om Devakinandanaya Vidmahe, Vasudevaya Dhimahi, Tanno Krishna Prachodayat”

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”

After the puja, devotees rock the cradle symbolizing Krishna’s birth, distribute prasad, and break their fast (Parana) at the designated time. Many also reenact Krishna’s childhood pastimes, organize Rasa Lila performances, and participate in Dahi Handi celebrations the following day, keeping the festive spirit alive.