Krishna Janmashtami 2022: Is Janmashtami on August 18 or 19? Know the history, significance & more

Krishna Janmashtami is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in India, especially in Vrindavan, Barsana, Mathura, and Dwarka. The day is extremely important as it is believed to mark the birth of Lord Krishna who is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu mythology.

Krishna Janmashtami

In Sanskrit, ‘eight days’ means ‘Ashtami’, while ‘janma’ means ‘existence’, and this is where the word ‘Janmashtami’ derives.

Observed by: Hindus
Observances: Fasting, praying
Also called: Krishnashtami, Krishna Jayanti, Gokulashtami, Yadukulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti
Featured in religions: Hinduism, Vaishnavism
Celebrations: DahiHandi (next day, in the north), kite-flying, drawing footprints of infant Krishna, fasting, traditional sweet dishes, etc.
Observances: Dance-drama, puja, night vigil, fasting
Date: śrāvaṇamāsa (amānta) / bhādrapadamāsa (purnimānta), kṛṣṇapakṣa, aṣṭamītithi

Janmashtami 2022 Date

As per the Vedic Panchang, Ashtami Tithi will start from 9.21 PM on 18th August and end at 10.59 PM on 19th August 2022. Hence, Janmashtami 2022 will be celebrated on both days, while the timing of Nishith Puja will start from 12.02 am August18 and ends at 12.48 pm on the same day.

Janmashtami 2022 History

Lord Krishna was the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. He was born when Mathura was ruled by his uncle Kansa. Kansa was a tyrannical ruler. He wanted to kill his sister’s children as the prophecy said that the eighth son of the couple would cause the downfall of Kansa and kill him in the future. Kansa then imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva and killed their first six children.

But when their seventh child, Balarama, was born, the fetus magically passed from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Princess Rohini. When their eighth child, Krishna, was born, the whole palace fell asleep, so Vasudeva saved the child and took him to Nanda Baba and Yashoda’s house in Vrindavan.

After the exchange, Vasudeva returned to the palace with a baby girl and handed her over to Kansa. When the evil king tried to kill the child, she turned into Durga, warning him about his impending doom, and thus, Krishna grew up in Vrindavan and later killed his uncle Kansa.

10 Famous Lord Krishna Temples in India

Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
Krishna Balaram Temple, Vrindavan
Govinda Dev Ji Temple, Jaipur
Venugopala Swamy Temple, Tamil Nadu
Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu
Shri Krishna Temple, Udupi
Guruvayur Temple, Kerala
Jugal Kishore Temple, Vrindavan

Janmashtami 2021 celebrations

Janmashtami celebrations and rituals begin with the worship of Krishna’s idols with flowers and ‘MorPankh’ (peacock feathers) by devotees at the beginning of the day. They offer his favorite ‘Makhan’ (white butter), curd, and milk after his birth at midnight. Dahi handi events are also organized.

Significance of Janmashtami

Temples in Vrindavan and Mathura are decorated with flowers and other colorful decorations to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. Since he is believed to have been born at midnight, people place the idols of baby Krishna in cradles after bathing, decorations, and commencing the Janmashtami celebrations.

On his birth anniversary, people participate in Dahihandi competitions as Krishna loved butter. On this day apart from DahiHandi, people donate to the poor and feed the cows. Even babies are dressed as Lord Krishna as he is worshipped in his toddler form during Janmashtami.