Krishna Janmashtami 2024: When is Janmashtami? Is it on August 26 or 27? Know date, significance, history and more

Updated on: Aug 25, 2024, 10:58:28 IST

By Krishna Priya Pallavi, New Delhi

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Krishna Janmashtami 2024: Find out if Janmashtami falls on August 26 or 27 this year. (Pinterest)

Krishna Janmashtami 2024: Clear the confusion around the correct date of Janmashtami. Know if it is on August 26 or 27. Also, find its history and significance.

Krishna Janmashtami 2024: The holy festival of Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated annually by the devotees of Lord Krishna. The celebrations are followed by the Dahi Handi festival. Janmashtami is also known as Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Krishnasthami or Srijayanti. This year, devotees are confused whether the festival is on August 26 or 27. Know the correct date, history, and significance of Janmashtami. (Also Read | What is Dahi Handi? Know the date, timing, significance and celebrations of Dahi Handi festival)

Janmashtami 2024 Correct Date: Is Krishna Janmashtami on August 26 or 27?

Janmashtami falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shraavana of Bhadrapad. This year, it will be Lord Krishna's 5251st birthday. There's some confusion around the exact date of the festival. According to Drik Panchang, Janmashtami is on Monday, August 26. After Krishna Janmashtami, Dahi Handi will be celebrated the next day - Tuesday, August 27.

(Also Read | Krishna Janmashtami: Know the incredible story of Lord Krishna's birth)

A view inside the ISKCON temple from last year on the eve of the Janmashtami festival (Sunil Ghosh/Hindustan Times)

Janmashtami 2024 History:

Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, was the son of Devaki and Vasudev. He was born to destroy the demon king of Mathura and Devaki's brother, Kansa. A prophecy told Kansa that Devaki and Vasudev's eighth son would cause his downfall. Upon knowing this, Kansa captured Devki and Vasudev and imprisoned them. He killed off six of their children. However, at the time of their seventh child's birth, the foetus mystically transferred from Devaki's womb to Princess Rohini's.

Read all about the Festivals of India here

When their eighth son, Krishna, was born, the whole palace was put in a deep slumber. The prison gates opened magically, allowing Vasudev to escape with the child. He took Krishna to Nand Baba and Yashodha's house in Vrindavan. Vasudev exchanged their baby with Krishna and returned with a baby girl in hand. The evil king tried to kill the girl child. However, she transformed into Durga, warning him about his impending doom. Thus, Krishna grew up in Vrindavan and later killed his uncle, Kansa. Lord Krishna's birth is celebrated as Janmashtami.

Janmashtami 2024 Significance:

Janmashtami holds a lot of significance for Hindus. It is one of the major festivals and is celebrated at midnight. Devotees of Krishna see him as a symbol of divinity, love, and righteousness. His life and teachings inspire devotees to lead a life based on dharma (righteousness), karma (action), and bhakti (devotion). On Krishna Janmashtami, devotees uphold these teachings, offer prayers to Laddu Gopal or Bal Krishna (Lord Krishna's childhood form), visit the temple to pray to Lord Krishna and seek his blessings, observe a fast, and read mantras.

(Also Read | Janmashtami 2024: Why Chappan Bhog is offered to Lord Krishna? Know the story behind the feast of 56 dishes)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More

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