Janmashtami is a special festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most loved and playful gods in Hinduism. Every year, people observe Janmashtami on the Ashtami tithi (the eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. On this day, many worship Bal Krishna, or popularly known as ‘Laddoo Gopal’, the baby form of Lord Krishna, with great love and devotion.
Shri Krishna is the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu and has played an important role in the Mahabharata according to mythological beliefs. Shri Krishna Janmashtami is the most famous festival of Mathura and Vrindavan, as they are the birthplace and the place where Shri Krishna spent his life.
People believe and have several mythological and spiritual beliefs connected to this festival. One of many is making 56 varieties of food to offer as ‘Bhog’ to Lord Krishna, famously known as ‘Chappan Bhog’. Another beautiful tradition is swinging the cradle of baby Krishna, also known as ‘Krishna ko Jhula Jhulana’, right at midnight, the believed time of his birth. People say this brings an end to all sorrows and fills life with happiness. These traditions bond the country and people over festivals.
Janmashtami Celebrations In Mathura And Vrindavan
Across India, Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy, but the celebrations in Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura, are truly special. The entire city comes alive with devotion as everyone, no matter children or elders, everyone remembers Krishna’s playful and divine stories and chant the name of God, they celebrate Krishna’s birthday as birthday oof their own son. The streets are decorated, and people participate in singing bhajans, performing dances, and reenacting episodes from Krishna’s life.
On the other hand, in Vrindavan, another important place linked to Krishna’s life, the famous Banke Bihari Temple hosts a beautiful Mangala Aarti every Janmashtami. Devotees gather in large numbers form all over the nation, eagerly waiting for this early morning ritual that marks the start of the celebrations. The air is filled with the sound of bhajans and the scent of flowers and incense, creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
For many, Janmashtami is more than just a festival, it’s a time of joy, devotion, and togetherness, bringing people closer to the stories and spirit of Lord Krishna.
When Will Janmashtami Be Celebrated In Mathura-Vrindavan?
Shri Krishna Janmashtmi will be celebrated on 16 August 2025 across the nation including Mathura and Vrindavan. These cities are decorated like a beautiful scenery, decked up with floweres, ballons, colors in air, parsad being prepared and distributed everywhere, these two cities are something else, somehig kore spritual during this celebration.
Here’s the magical Janmabhoomi Krishna Janmashtami celebration timeline, want to know what happens when? Let’s dive in together
- At 11:00 pm, the festivities and pooja starts with Shri Ganpati and Navagraha Installation and Puja.
- By 11:55 pm, it’s time for Sahasrarachan- offering beautiful flowers and tulsi leaves.
- Just before midnight, at 11:59 pm, the curtains of all the temples close, significance before Shri Krishna being born.
- At exactly 12:00 am, Manifestation Darshan and Aarti begin, lasting till 12:10 am, the heart of the celebration!
- Next, from 12:10 am to 12:25 am, comes Payodhar Mahabhishek, the ceremonial bathing with cow’s milk, a sacred ritual. which is very facinating and it fills the atmosphere with sprituality.
- Then, from 12:25 am to 12:40 am, the Grand Birth Abhishek of Thakurji happens, the most special moment.
- From 12:45 am to 12:50 am, Shringar Aarti adorns the deity, pure beauty and love.
- Finally, between 1:55 am and 2:00 am, Shayan Aarti gently puts the deity to rest. It does does not end here, people continue the darshan and bhajan for the next whole day.
Mangala Aarti At Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
- Performed only once a year, exclusively on Janmashtami
- Attracts devotees from all over, eager to witness the grand celebration
- Includes a special grand abhishek (ceremonial bath) of Lord Krishna
- Scheduled for midnight (12:00 am) on August 16, 2025
- A deeply spiritual and joyous event marking the birth of Lord Krishna
Where To Watch Mangala Arti Online
During Janmashtami, many websites and social media pages stream the Mangala Aarti live.
Due to many reasons, not everyone can reach the temple and watch the Aarti live, so to solve this problem and help everyone get the spiritual zest of the atmosphere, major channels cover the Aarti live and stream it on their channels. So, just tune into popular news channels online for all the festive vibes and divine moments.
You can also catch the live streaming on the official website of the Banke Bihari Mandir.
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
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