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Puja guide · Krishna (Bal Gopal)

Janmashtami Puja Vidhi (Midnight Krishna Puja)

Krishna was born at midnight in Mathura, so on Janmashtami devotees fast through the day and celebrate his birth at nishita kaal with abhishekam of a small image of baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal), who is then dressed, placed in a decorated cradle and offered fifty-six or more dishes.

Dedicated toKrishna (Bal Gopal)
Time needed45 minutes around midnight
Next date (New Delhi)Tue, 24 Aug 2027

When: At midnight on Janmashtami — nishita kaal is calculated below for New Delhi.

Krishna Janmashtami 24 August 2027 · New Delhi

Nishita kaal (midnight worship)00:01 (25 Aug) – 00:45 (25 Aug)

Times depend on your location. See the Panchang for this date in your city, or the Krishna Janmashtami guide.

Samagri (items needed)

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Prasad & naivedya

Makhan-mishri, dhaniya panjiri, panchamrit, and sweets made with milk.

Aarti & stotras

Mantra

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya with the mantra counter

Step-by-step puja vidhi

  1. Fast and decorate

    Fast through the day (many fast without grains), and decorate the shrine and cradle with flowers. Sing bhajans and recite stories of Krishna in the evening.

  2. Midnight birth

    At nishita kaal, blow the conch and ring bells to announce the birth, and bring baby Krishna to the cradle.

  3. Abhishekam

    Bathe the image with panchamrit — milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar — and then clean water, chanting his mantra.

    ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

    oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

    Chant with the mantra counter →

  4. Shringar

    Dry the image gently, dress Krishna in new clothes, add his crown, peacock feather and flute, and apply chandan.

  5. Offerings

    These steps follow the traditional shodashopachara — the sixteen offerings with which a deity is welcomed and honoured as a guest. Offer tulsi with every food item — makhan-mishri, panjiri, fruit and sweets (chhappan bhog, fifty-six dishes, in many homes).

  6. Rock the cradle and aarti

    Rock the cradle gently while singing, then perform aarti. Recite the Madhurashtakam or sing bhajans.

  7. Break the fast

    Break the fast after the midnight puja with prasad, or the next morning, according to family custom.

Tips

  • Tulsi must accompany every offering to Krishna.
  • Smarta and Vaishnava (ISKCON) calendars sometimes observe Janmashtami on consecutive days — follow your community’s date.
  • In Maharashtra the next day is celebrated with Dahi Handi.
Puja customs vary between regions, communities and families. This guide describes widely followed home practice; please follow the guidance of your family elders or priest where it differs.

Frequently asked questions

When is Krishna Janmashtami 2027?

Krishna Janmashtami falls on Tuesday, 24 August 2027 in New Delhi; nishita kaal (midnight worship) 00:01 (25 Aug) – 00:45 (25 Aug).

What is chhappan bhog?

An offering of fifty-six dishes, recalling the story that Krishna ate eight meals a day and missed seven days of meals while holding up Govardhan hill.

Can the fast be broken before midnight?

Customs vary; many keep a fruit-and-milk fast and break it only after the midnight birth celebration.

By the AstroMandap editorial team · Updated · Editorial standards