Janmashtami 2024: How to Perform Lord Krishna Puja; Rituals and Shubh Muhurat

Janmashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. It falls on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) in the Hindu calendar.

Janmashtami 2024: Date and Shubh muhurat

This year, Janmashtami is being celebrated today, on August 26. The festival falls on the Ashtami tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada, under the Rohini Nakshatra. The Nishith Puja Muhurat is from 24:00:30 to 24:45:02, lasting 44 minutes, and the Janmashtami Parana Muhurat is after 05:56:15 on August 27th. The Janmashtami fast begins on Ashtami and is completed with the breaking of the fast on Navami.

Janmashtami 2024: Rituals

• Perform puja at midnight, the exact time of Krishna’s birth.
• Worship the idol of Krishna, often dressed in new clothes.
• Sing devotional songs and chant Krishna’s name.
• Break the Dahi Handi (a clay pot filled with curd and butter) to commemorate Krishna’s childhood activity.
• Enact the Ras Lila, a dramatic representation of Krishna’s life.
• Observe a day-long fast or a partial fast, breaking it only after midnight puja.
• Offer a puja thali with items like incense, flowers and sweets.
• Offer bhog (prasad) like milk, curd, butter or sweets.
• Perform aarti to Krishna with a earthen lamp or camphor flame.
• Break the fast the next day, after sunrise, with a meal or prasad.

How to perform Lord Krishna puja

1. Position the IdolPlace the Lord Krishna idol in the northeast corner of your home, facing east or west.
2. Prepare the Puja AreaClean and decorate the area with flowers, incense, and other puja items.
3. Bathe and Dress the IdolBathe the idol with milk, ghee, and honey, and dress it in new clothes.
4. Offer Puja ItemsOffer flowers, fruits, and other puja items to Lord Krishna.
5. Chant MantrasChant Krishna mantras and shlokas from the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads.
6. Perform AartiPerform aarti lamp or camphor flame.
7. Offer BhogOffer sattvic food and fruits to Lord Krishna.
8. Seek BlessingsSeek blessings from Lord Krishna for happiness, peace, and prosperity.