Janmashtami in India (2025)

From midnight magic in Mathura to temple lights in Dwarka — here is how India celebrates Krishna’s birth. Read Full Article

Why Janmashtami Feels Special

[{"selector":"#anim-dda663fa-afda-4846-9e34-c29c0cfcc8df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-488d5d8e-cfe0-46ed-b78f-a6cdc866bb7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It is not just a festival. Janmashtami is love, devotion, bhajans, and little Krishna’s playful magic across India.

Mathura – Krishna’s Birthplace

[{"selector":"#anim-ec6d5e58-516c-44a8-81f8-ed44e33c6bee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-675414a6-65e4-4a68-9933-aeac91d6850a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.72026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80ae460e-f1d3-443a-8ff8-3551c9f077e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Grand aartis, raslila dramas & chants echo past midnight. You feel the divine energy in the air.

Vrindavan – Where Krishna Played

[{"selector":"#anim-eb0887eb-fb0a-4420-a1fc-832a170cea77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea7063ce-9102-469a-992d-53274ea74e8f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ead021fc-cc79-4022-816d-13516d01c60e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Temples here become theaters. Raslila, bhajans, and flower showers feel like time travel.

ISKCON Delhi – Devotion & Drama

[{"selector":"#anim-78ce935e-8b84-4b04-8864-e1ad57be29d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-042a1095-d332-4a51-98a5-209e8aced7f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.64611%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa9c506d-65b2-44b5-9b7f-d8801b92f22b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kathak shows, chanting, 56 bhog thalis. ISKCON lights up with colors and calmness.

Mumbai – Dahi Handi Madness

[{"selector":"#anim-39245e42-3fae-4ac2-b967-79ed1aa43c4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80ca9e2f-3674-4e86-8210-18bae5db622f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5183c981-4b1e-498d-b0f8-cfc6b83319fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Local mandals form human pyramids to break the pot. It is a mix of thrill, faith & fun!

Dwarka – Krishna’s Kingdom

[{"selector":"#anim-02deadb6-4337-47cd-9515-80ab532f21a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eb2a95e-1ae5-4a79-b7eb-4bb4c5a87e01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.77988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f3b359b-b58f-4f87-9845-e2bb8a3e8b7c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Temples glow with diyas, bhajans echo through the sea breeze. A divine western coastline moment.

Planning Your Trip?

[{"selector":"#anim-b4eab986-18d2-43ce-847e-9a8a693d639c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-988b74ce-d883-434a-a970-fdd4aa3110c1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.77988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37e36e48-6525-44c6-bda5-eb8babb86c54","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Book early. Expect monsoon, crowds & roadblocks near major temples. Wear comfy clothes, carry power bank.

Tips for International Visitors

[{"selector":"#anim-dd070089-1eaf-4591-8340-dfab7a083995","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9181599a-d1e4-401f-ace3-b4c9dc09a1c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.46541%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eaa46fe0-54e6-48cb-9d74-5a7c6cd171f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Be respectful at temples. Remove shoes. Eat veg food. Locals are helpful. Expect pure joy & crowd!

Celebrate Krishna’s Birth with Faith & Festivity

[{"selector":"#anim-fadce64b-0975-4adf-886a-5652541a7715","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd78bec0-0413-436e-9713-d3182de0bdaa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.65495%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9dcf81f-3854-462a-b305-2df6f406ead2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read the full Janmashtami 2025 guide with rituals, temple info & travel advice. Learn more