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Janmashtami 2026: Date, Timings, Fasting and Dahi Handi Celebrations
Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
In 2026, most people will celebrate it on Friday, September 4.
The special midnight prayer may continue into September 5 because the Ashtami tithi lasts past midnight.
In New Delhi, the main prayer period is expected to run from about 11:57 pm to 12:43 am.
Many people fast during the day and pray until midnight.
Different families and traditions have different rules for breaking the fast.
Temples and homes may bathe, dress and place a small Krishna idol in a decorated cradle.
The next day, September 5, people will celebrate Dahi Handi by forming human pyramids to break a pot of curd or treats.
Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The Ashtami tithi runs from 2:25 am on September 4 to 12:13 am on September 5.
In New Delhi, Nishita Puja is expected from about 11:57 pm to 12:43 am.
Fasting and parana rules vary by tradition, family practice and local Panchang timings.
Dahi Handi will take place on Saturday, September 5, with daytime celebrations especially prominent in Maharashtra.
- Who
- Hindu devotees celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, who is revered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
- What
- Krishna Janmashtami 2026, including midnight worship, fasting, devotional celebrations and Dahi Handi.
- Where
- Celebrations will take place across India, with especially elaborate observances in Mathura and Vrindavan and prominent Dahi Handi events in Maharashtra.
- When
- Janmashtami is on Friday, September 4, 2026; Dahi Handi is on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
- Why
- The festival commemorates Krishna's birth and recalls his spiritual teachings and role in Hindu tradition.
Midnight Fast Breaking
Later Fast Breaking
When to break the fast
Midnight Fast Breaking
Some traditions allow devotees to break the fast after the midnight celebration of Krishna's birth.
Later Fast Breaking
Other traditions require waiting for particular tithi or nakshatra conditions, or until the following sunrise.
How to observe the vrat
Midnight Fast Breaking
Some devotees follow a strict fast throughout the day until the midnight worship.
Later Fast Breaking
Others follow a fruit-based or otherwise restricted diet, depending on their religious tradition.
Key facts
- Janmashtami date
- Friday, September 4, 2026
- Ashtami tithi
- Begins at 2:25 am on September 4 and ends at 12:13 am on September 5
- Rohini Nakshatra
- Runs from 12:29 am to 11:04 pm on September 4
- New Delhi Nishita Puja
- Approximately 11:57 pm on September 4 to 12:43 am on September 5
- Dahi Handi date
- Saturday, September 5, 2026
- National holiday status
- Janmashtami is not a national holiday in India; holiday status varies by state and establishment
Sources
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