When is Janmashtami 2025: The festival of Janmashtami, commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna. Widely regarded as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Janmashtami 2025 is observed across the country in mid-August every year. According to Drik Panchang, the occasion this year coincides with the 5,252nd anniversary of Lord Krishna’s birth. But when is Janmashtami 2025, August 15 or 16?
Janmashtami 2025 will be celebrated on both August 15 and 16, with the sacred Nishita Puja falling between 12:04 a.m. and 12:47 a.m. on August 16. The Chandrodaya (moonrise) will occur at 10:46 p.m. on Krishna Dashami. Dahi Handi festivities will take place on Saturday, August 16.
All about Janmashtami 2025
Janmashtami 2025 puja timings
Nishita Puja: 12:04 a.m. – 12:47 a.m., August 16 (43 minutes)
Midnight Moment: 12:26 a.m., August 16
Ashtami Tithi: Begins 11:49 p.m., August 15; ends 9:34 p.m., August 16
Rohini Nakshatra: Begins 4:38 a.m., August 17; ends 3:17 a.m., August 18
This year’s Janmashtami falls without Rohini Nakshatra during Nishita Puja.
Guidelines for Parana
The breaking of the fast, or Parana, depends on tradition.
Dharma Shastra View: After 9:34 p.m., August 16
Alternate Parana (Traditional Dharma Shastra View): After 5:51 a.m., August 16, post Deva Puja and Visarjan
Modern Practice: Post-Nishita Puja, after 12:47 a.m.
ISKCON Janmashtami 2025 timings
ISKCON temples will mark the festival with Nishita Puja between 12:04 a.m. and 12:47 a.m. on August 17. Parana is advised after 5:51 a.m. the same day.
City-wise Nishita Puja timings and muhurat on August 16
New Delhi: 12:04 a.m.–12:47 a.m.
Mumbai: 12:20 a.m.–1:05 a.m.
Ahmedabad: 12:22 a.m.–1:06 a.m.
Bengaluru: 12:01 a.m.–12:47 a.m.
Chennai: 11:51 p.m.–12:36 a.m.
Kolkata: 11:19 p.m., Aug 16 – 12:03 a.m., Aug 17
Pune: 12:17 a.m.–1:02 a.m.
Jaipur: 12:10 a.m.–12:53 a.m.
Hyderabad: 11:58 p.m.–12:43 a.m.
Gurgaon: 12:05 a.m.–12:48 a.m.
Chandigarh: 12:06 a.m.–12:49 a.m.
Noida: 12:03 a.m.–12:47 a.m.
Rules for Janmashtami 2025 fasting
Traditionally, Krishna and ISKCON devotees have only one meal prior to the festival day and break their fast only after the end of Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami Tithi. Rituals involve performing Shodashopachara Puja Vidhi at midnight. There are two types of fasts:
via GIPHY
Nirjala: This involves complete restriction of food and water until midnight aarti.
Phalahar: This kind of fasting is restricted to fruits, dairy, and water, avoiding grains, legumes, onion, and garlic.
What you can have when fasting for Janmashtami 2025?
Fruits: Banana, apple, pomegranate
Dairy: Milk, yogurt, paneer, butter
Root vegetables: Potato, sweet potato
Flours: Buckwheat (kuttu), amaranth (rajgira), water chestnut (singhara)
Salt: Sendha namak (rock salt)
Devotees perform bhajans, scripture recitals, and temple visits, which ends with Krishna Janmotsav at midnight, when the fast is traditionally broken.
