Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Krishna
Krishna is said to have been born at midnight, in a prison, in the rain. Devotees keep vigil until that hour — fasting, singing, and waiting. It is one of the few festivals whose observance is essentially nocturnal, which makes it a natural night for long, unhurried chanting.
Add Krishna Janmashtami to calendar (downloads an .ics file)
A recommended mantra for this sacred day
A prayer of salutation to Krishna as Vasudeva and Govinda, suited to the long wait before midnight when the wish is simply to keep his name close.
Read the Sanskrit and meaning on the Krishnaya Vasudevaya — Krishna Prayer of Surrender page, or explore the full mantra library.
Date shown for New Delhi, India. Observance can differ by location because tithi, sunrise and timezone affect the applicable date — please confirm local temple or pañcāṅga timings if precise observance times matter to your practice.