Krishna Janmashtami: dates, muhurat and meaning.
The next Krishna Janmashtami is on Friday, 4 September 2026. The date is computed from the classical panchang for Delhi (rule: krishna ashtami tithi prevailing at sunset). Below are the Krishna Janmashtami dates for 2026 and 2027, the day's shubh muhurat windows, and what the festival celebrates.
Krishna Janmashtami dates
What is Krishna Janmashtami?
Krishna was born at nishita kaal — deep midnight — under Rohini nakshatra, so Janmashtami is fixed by the Ashtami tithi prevailing at midnight. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions sometimes split a day apart on that criterion.
The night is kept in vigil: the abhishekam at midnight, panchamrit and butter offered to Bal Gopal, and the fast broken after. In Maharashtra the following day's dahi-handi recreates the butter-thief with human pyramids.
Muhurat on Krishna Janmashtami
The festival's own muhurat is nishita kaal (midnight) — not the midday window. The Abhijit Muhurat above serves daytime observances; the exact midnight abhishekam span for your city is computed in the Bela app.
| Window — 4 September 2026 | Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 11:55 AM – 12:45 PM |