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Janmashtami
जन्माष्टमी
The midnight celebration of Krishna's birth — the divine disguised as a helpless child
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna, eighth avatar of Vishnu, at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra. He was born in a prison in Mathura, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki, to overthrow the tyrant Kamsa. In Vrindavan and Mathura the celebration lasts days; in Mumbai the Dahi Handi — a human pyramid to break a pot of yoghurt — celebrates Krishna the butter thief. The birth at midnight signals that the divine enters the world at its darkest hour.
Krishna JayantiGokulashtamiSri Krishna Janmashtami
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Festivals
A 60-second practice
Think of one moment in your life when help arrived at your darkest hour, seemingly from nowhere. Krishna's mythology is about that divine assistance entering at midnight.
Celebrated at midnight — the hour of Krishna's birth.
Keep this offering free
MyBrahman is free and ad-free for everyone. If it has given you something, dāna keeps the lamp lit.
Educational purposes only. Compiled from general reference sources and not reviewed by any religious authority. No disrespect is intended to any deity, tradition, scripture or community. For authoritative guidance, consult qualified scholars and primary texts.