With Janmashtami only few hours away, temples and homes in India are gearing up for one of the most eagerly-awaited moments of the festival the midnight celebration for the birth of Lord Krishna. While saints fast, adorn temples, and sing bhajans during the day, it is the stroke of midnight that is of greatest spiritual importance. But why is Krishna's birth celebrated at this particular time?
The day is of great religious and spiritual importance in Hindu religion. Janmashtami, the birthday of Krishna, is solemnly celebrated throughout the nation with greater grandeur on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapada. This year, on August 16, 2025, Janmashtami will be celebrated.
The festival falls on the Ashtami Tithi (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The following are the detailed timings for the observance this year:
Please remember that the Rohini Nakshatra, another important astrological time related to Krishna's birth, starts later on August 17, 2025.
As per Hindu scriptures, Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, was born in Mathura at midnight on Ashtami under the Rohini Nakshatra. At the time of his birth, the tyranny of King Kansa had reached its climax. Midnight birth is understood to be the time when light broke through darkness, representing good triumphing over evil.
A divine prophecy foretold that Kansa’s sister Devaki’s eighth child would bring about his downfall. Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, killing their first seven children.
When Krishna was born at midnight, miracles happened prison doors opened, guards dozed off, and Vasudeva took the infant across the Yamuna River to Gokul. There, he swapped Krishna with a baby girl from Nanda and Yashoda's residence. The girl became goddess Durga, forewarning Kansa that his destroyer lived.
Janmashtami 2025 is Lord Krishna's 5,252nd birthday. Devotees observe fasting, recite mantras, and conduct special pujas, only breaking the fast after midnight worship. Temples bathe Krishna idols in Panchamrit, sing bhajans, and keep the deity in beautifully crafted cradles.
From his mischievous butter heists to bringing the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna's life teaches us about joy, righteousness, and devotion. In Vrindavan and Mathura, Janmashtami is celebrated in splendor, with Maharashtra's Dahi Handi lending a competitive festive flavor. In South India, Krishna is ushered in with ritual footprints painted at home doorways.
Clothing and food are also important offerings Such offerings as makhan-mishri and panjiri are made, and most dress up in peacock feathers and yellow clothes as Krishna.
Midnight, the time of quietness and increased spiritual energy, reflects the quietening of the mind to attune to divine energy. Just as devotees welcome Krishna at midnight, they welcome the eternal reality that hope and goodness can arise even in the worst of times.
