Krishna Janmashtami

Significance

Krishna was born at midnight in Mathura's prison to Devaki and Vasudeva, on the Ashtami of Bhadrapada's dark fortnight under Rohini nakshatra. Janmashtami is therefore anchored to Nishita Kaal: the tithi must touch the middle of the night, which is why the observed date can differ from the sunrise tithi and why Smarta and ISKCON dates occasionally split.

Observance

• A full-day fast, broken after the midnight puja (some observe nirjala)
• The deity is bathed (abhisheka), cradled and offered 56 dishes (chhappan bhog) or simple makhan-mishri
• Devotional singing until midnight, then Krishna's birth is celebrated
• Dahi Handi pots are broken the next day in Maharashtra

Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwarka hold the grandest celebrations.