Krishna Janmashtami 2018: Tithi, vrat timing and all you need to know

New Delhi : Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna and is celebrated on Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravan, as per Gregorian calendar. This annual Hindu festival usually falls in the month of August or September and this year (2018) Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on September 2.

Dahi Handi is the special attraction of the festival which is observed on the second day of Janmashtami. This year, Krishna Dahi Handi will be celebrated on September 3.

Also, known as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Ashtami Rohini or Janmashtami, the festival is also celebrated in the name of ‘Nandotsav’. It is the day when Nanda Baba distributes gifts neighbouring people in the honor of Lord Krishna birth.

As per Hindu mythological stories, in the Kingdom of Mathura was under the rule of King Kansa. The king had a sister named Princess Devaki. He got his sister married to Vasudeva and suddenly the cloud roared with a forecast that their eighth son would be the cause of his death. The king threw Devaki and Vasudev into the prison. The king killed all the six children of Devaki. The seventh child was secretly shifted to the womb of Princess Rohini in Vrindavan who grew to become Balram. However, after the birth of their eighth son Krishna, Vasudev took the baby braving the storm and chopping the river to Nanda and Yashoda.   

Vasudev reached Nanda’s residence, gave the son to them and in return took their baby girl with him. He told King Kansa that a girl child was born assuming he wouldn’t harm her as according to prophecy eighth ‘son’ would kill him. But Kansa threw the baby girl against a rock and suddenly the girl child took the form of Goddess Durga and warned Kansa about his death. And years later, Krishna took the life of Kansa and Mathura turned to happy kingdom.

Fasting on Krishna Janmastami 2018

Devotees fasting on the occasion of Janmashtami avoid consuming grains until parana when the fast is broken on the next day after sunrise. For the Janmashtami fast, parana is done on next day after sunrise when Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra is over. Devotees should also take a Sankalpa which is a one-day long fast broken on the next day. Devotees also sing devotional sings, chant ‘Vishnu Sahasranamam’ and involve in a ritual of placing Krishna’s idol in a cradle.

Tithi of Krishna Janmastami 2018

Ashtami tithi begins: 8:47 pm on September 2, 2018

Ashtami tithi ends: 7:20 pm on September 3, 2018