Krishna Janmashtami 2023: The Hindu holiday known as Krishna Janmashtami 2023, also known as Janmashtami and Gokulashtami, honours the birth of Lord Krishna.
On the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada, or the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha (the moon’s setting phase), Janmashtami is observed. Typically, this occurs in August or September.
Celebrate this Janmashtami with these ‘Gita Updesh’ to live-by everyday
Krishna Janmashtami 2023 Dates
The celebration of Krishna Janmashtami this year will take place on September 6 and 7.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami occurs on a different day every year. For Krishna Janmashtami, two days are often set aside. First is for the Smarta Sampradaya, and second is for the Vaishnava Sampradaya.
Time
According to the Gregorian calendar, Krishna Janmashtami is typically observed sometime in the month of August or September, however this year it falls on September 7—a Thursday.
Why do people celebrate Janmashtami for two days?
One of Hinduism’s most revered gods, Krishna is worshipped by Hindus all around the world. He is well-known for his affection, empathy, and sense of humour. Krishna is also viewed as a representation of redemption and hope.
However, Smarta Sampradaya and Vaishanava Sampradaya commemorate Krishna Janmashtami on separate days, with the first day being for Smarta Sampradaya. The second is Vaishanava Sampradaya date. A single Janmashtami date signifies that both Sampradaya would celebrate the holiday on that specific day.
There are two separate sects: Vaishnava Sampradaya and Smarta Sampradaya. When the Janmashtami date occurs frequently, both the Vaishnava Sampradaya and the Smarta Sampradaya celebrate on the same day. However, when the dates are completely different, the Vaishnava sect celebrates on a later date and the Smarta sect on the primary date.
Smarta adherents who are aware of the differences between the Smarta and Vaishnava sects do not observe Janmashtami fasting on the ISKCON schedule. Unfortunately, the Braj region unanimously observes Janmashtami on the ISKCON date, and the majority of individuals who simply follow the craze do the same.
Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra are preferred by Vaishnavism adherents. Vaishnavites never celebrate Janmashtami on Saptami Tithi. According to Vaishnava principles, Janmashtami always falls on the Ashtami or Navami Tithi of the Hindu calendar.
The criteria used by Smartism to determine Janmashtami day, however, are more intricate. The Hindu midnight or Nishita is preferred. When Ashtami Tithi occurs during Nishita, it is preferred over Saptami Tithi, and additional regulations are imposed to take Rohini Nakshatra into account. The day with the most fortunate alignment of Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra during Nishita period is given final consideration. According to Smarta regulations, Janmashtami day always falls on the Saptami or Ashtami Tithi of the Hindu calendar.
Rituals for Krishna Janmashtami 2023
Krishna temples are decorated for the occasion, processions are held, and a variety of bhajans, kirtans, and satsangs are held in places of worship honouring the Blue God. Many locations hold dance-drama reenactments of Krishna’s life as described in the Bhagavata Purana, midnight devotional chanting, fasting (upavasa), a night vigil (ratri jagaran), and a festival (mahotsava) the next day to commemorate His birth.
The idols of Lord Krishna are cleansed and dressed in fresh attire for Janmashtami. To represent the idol’s birth, a cradle is used to hold it. In addition, women depict Krishna entering their homes by drawing tiny foot prints outside their front doors and kitchens.
It should be noted that Krishna Janmashtami is primarily observed in Mathura and Vrindavan, as well as other locations where Krishna devotees or Vaishnava communities reside, including Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Following Krishna Janmashtami comes the celebration Nandotsav.
In accordance with the scriptures, Devaki and her husband King Vasudeva of the Yadava tribe are said to have given birth to Krishna, the eighth manifestation of Vishnu, in Nathdwara during a chaotic period when his maternal uncle King Kamsa was tormenting the earth. When he is an adult, he overthrows and kills the oppressive king, his uncle Kamsa/Kansa, after thwarting multiple attempts at the monarch’s assassination. He later appears as a key figure in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
