Janmashtami Puja Vidhi: Midnight Puja, Fast and Aarti

Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, observed on the Ashtami of the Krishna paksha in the month of Bhadrapada (Shravana in the amanta calendar), usually in August or September. The celebration peaks at midnight. Here is a simple home guide.

Preparation

• Clean the puja space and decorate a small jhula (cradle) with flowers.
• Bathe Laddu Gopal, the child form of Krishna, dress him in new clothes and a mor-pankh (peacock feather) crown.
• Keep ready: a conch or bell, tulsi leaves, makhan-mishri, panchamrit, fruit, incense and a diya.

The fast

Many devotees fast through the day, taking only fruit and milk, and break it after the midnight puja. Pregnant women, the elderly and those who are unwell should fast gently.

Midnight puja

1. Light the diya shortly before midnight and sing bhajans.
2. At midnight, gently bathe the idol with panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar) and then with clean water.
3. Dress and decorate Krishna, and place him in the jhula.
4. Offer tulsi, makhan-mishri and fruit.
5. Sing Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki while waving the thali clockwise, ring the bell and offer camphor.
6. Rock the jhula gently while singing lullabies, and share prasad.

Tulsi leaves are essential for Krishna and Vishnu, so remember them when filling the aarti thali.

Other traditions

In Mathura-Vrindavan, Dwarka and Mumbai the festival is joyful and public. Dahi Handi, where teams form human pyramids to break a pot of curd, recalls Krishna’s childhood love of butter. Many temples hold special night-long programmes.

Teaching children

Janmashtami is a lovely occasion to tell children Krishna’s childhood stories, let them decorate the jhula and sing a simple aarti with the family. Use our aarti guide if you are new to it.