Janmashtami (Smarta) 2026 जन्माष्टमी (स्मार्त)

Why Janmashtami (Smarta) is celebrated

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, whom Hindus revere as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. When the Ashtami tithi and the Rohini nakshatra do not fall neatly on one day, panchangs list two dates. The first is followed by Smarta householders, the second by Vaishnava groups such as ISKCON and many temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.

History and story of Janmashtami (Smarta)

Smarta rules give weight to the Ashtami tithi being present at midnight, the hour of Krishna's birth. Vaishnava rules prefer the day on which Ashtami is present at sunrise and avoid Saptami, which often moves their fast to the next day. In some years both groups end up on the same date.

According to the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna was born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva, and was carried across the Yamuna to Gokul to escape King Kansa.

How Janmashtami (Smarta) is celebrated

Smarta devotees keep a fast through the day and night. At midnight, the image of baby Krishna is bathed in Panchamrit, dressed and placed in a decorated cradle. Families sing bhajans, offer makhan mishri, panjiri and fruit, and break the fast after the midnight puja or the next morning.

Many homes draw small footprints from the door to the shrine to welcome the child Krishna, and children dress up as Krishna and Radha. In Dehradun and across Uttarakhand, temples and homes put up jhankis showing scenes from Krishna's childhood, and Dahi Handi or matki phod contests follow in many towns.