Krishna Janmashtami 2026
Krishna Janmashtami 2026 is on Friday, 4 September 2026. Nishita puja (Krishna birth time) in New Delhi: 23:57 to 00:13 (next day). The tithi runs from 02:25, 4 September 2026 to 00:13, 5 September 2026.
Krishna Janmashtami 2026 date and puja time in major cities
| City | Date | Nishita puja (Krishna birth time) |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:57 – 00:13 (next day) |
| Mumbai | Thursday, 3 September 2026 | — |
| Ahmedabad | Thursday, 3 September 2026 | — |
| Kolkata | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:12 – 23:58 |
| Chennai | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:44 – 00:13 (next day) |
| Bengaluru | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:55 – 00:13 (next day) |
| Hyderabad | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:51 – 00:13 (next day) |
| Varanasi | Friday, 4 September 2026 | 23:34 – 00:13 (next day) |
About Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In prominent Hindu scriptures, such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana and Gita Govinda, Krishna has been identified as the supreme God and the source of all avatars.
History
Information about Krishna's life is noted in the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and Bhagavata Purana. Krishna is the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Surrounding the time of his birth, persecution was rampant, freedoms were being denied, and King Kamsa's life was threatened. Krishna was born within a prison in Mathura, India where his parents were constrained by his uncle, Kamsa. During Devaki's wedding, Kamsa was warned by a celestial voice that Devaki's eighth son would be the cause of his death. To thwart this prophecy, Kamsa imprisoned his sister Devaki and her husband, killing the first six of their newborns shortly after birth. The guards responsible for keeping watch over Devaki's cell fell asleep and the cell doors were miraculously opened at the time of Krishna's birth. These events allowed Vasudeva to send Krishna across the Yamuna River to his foster parents, Yashoda and Nanda.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), shortened.
Questions people ask
When is Krishna Janmashtami in 2026?
Krishna Janmashtami is on Friday, 4 September 2026 (New Delhi). In some regions the date can be a day apart; see the table above for your city.
What is the nishita puja (krishna birth time) for Krishna Janmashtami 2026?
In New Delhi it is 23:57 to 00:13 (next day), during Nishita kaal (midnight) when the festival's tithi is running.
Why is Krishna Janmashtami celebrated?
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
Other years: Krishna Janmashtami 2027
Updated: 2026-10-18 · Calculated for the place shown, with Lahiri ayanamsha. How we calculate