According to the Hindu Almanac, Krishna Janmashtami will be observed on September 4, but devotees in several cities will welcome Krishna after midnight on September 5. The difference comes down to local Nishita Kaal timings.
For anyone planning Krishna Janmashtami celebrations this year, the calendar may look a little confusing.
The festival will be observed on September 4, 2026, but in cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad, the main midnight puja begins only after the clock has moved into September 5. In Kolkata, the same worship window ends before midnight on September 4.
When is Janmashtami on September 4 or September 5?
This year, Janmashtami will occur on September 4. But what varies from place to place is the timing of the Nishita Kaal, the period around midnight traditionally chosen for Krishna's birth celebration.
According to Drik Panchang, Krishna Janmashtami falls on Friday, September 4, 2026. The Ashtami Tithi begins at 2:25 AM on September 4 and ends at 12:13 AM on September 5 for Kolkata.
Why can the same puja cross into September 5?
{{/usCountry}}According to Drik Panchang, Krishna Janmashtami falls on Friday, September 4, 2026. The Ashtami Tithi begins at 2:25 AM on September 4 and ends at 12:13 AM on September 5 for Kolkata.
Why can the same puja cross into September 5?
{{/usCountry}}Nishita Kaal is not a fixed nationwide clock time.
It is calculated according to the local night, so the puja window can begin before midnight in one city and after midnight in another. Drik Panchang's city-wise calculations show this clearly.
Kolkata: September 4 at 11:13 PM to 11:59 PM.
New Delhi: September 4 at 11:57 PM to September 5 at 12:43 AM.
Chennai: September 4 at 11:45 PM to September 5 at 12:31 AM.
Hyderabad: September 4 at 1:52 PM, to September 5 at 12:38 AM.
Bengaluru: September 4 at 11:55 PM, to September 5 at 12:42 AM.
Pune: September 5 at 12:10 AM to 12:57 AM.
Mumbai: September 5 at 12:14 AM to 1:01 AM.
Ahmedabad: September 5 at 12:16 AM to 1:02 AM.
Janmashtami follows the lunar calendar, not just the date on the clock
Janmashtami is linked with Krishna Paksha Ashtami, the eighth tithi of the waning Moon. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, Hindu lunar dates do not begin and end at midnight.
This year, the Ashtami Tithi in the Kolkata calculation begins on September 4 and continues just past midnight into September 5, ending at 12:13 AM.
This is why simply looking at the date after midnight can be misleading. The Hindu calendar is tracking the position and movement of the Moon rather than treating midnight as the automatic end of a festival day.
Why Nishita Kaal matters on Krishna Janmashtami?
Traditional Hindu observance places Krishna's birth at midnight. The period selected for the celebration is known as Nishita Kaal.
Drik Panchang gives the Nishita Puja window as 11:13 PM to 11:59 PM on September 4, with the midnight moment calculated at 11:36 PM.
So the difference is not that Krishna Janmashtami suddenly changes dates when a devotee travels from Kolkata to Mumbai. The local calculation of the midnight worship period changes.
What Rohini Nakshatra adds to the timing
According to Drik Panchang, Rohini Nakshatra from 12:29 AM until 11:04 PM on September 4. The Ashtami Tithi continues until 12:13 AM on September 5.
Rohini has a special place in the traditional story of Krishna's birth. In Jyotish and Hindu tradition, Krishna's birth is associated with Rohini Nakshatra.
Astrologers generally interpret Rohini through themes such as growth, beauty, nourishment and creativity. These are traditional astrological interpretations and should not be treated as scientific effects.
Why do some calendars show September 5?
Devotees may also see September 5 on calendars because the fast-breaking time, or Parana, can fall the following morning.
September 5 is also the date for Dahi Handi in many calendars, adding another reason the following date appears alongside Janmashtami.