Friday, August 23, 2019

Janmashtami 2019: Know Fasting Date & Rituals

Janmashtami under Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga brings major luck this year! Know what rituals to follow to appease Bal Gopal and auspicious fasting date for both Smarta and Vaishnava sects.


Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami or Krishna Janmashtami, holds high significance in Hinduism. On this day, the birth of the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna is celebrated. As per the Hindu Panchang, this festival is observed on the eighth day or Ashtami during Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada during Rohini Nakshatra, which falls on 24 August 2019 for both the sects. As per the Gregorian Calendar, this time duration normally falls in the month of August-September. Krishna Jayanti is celebrated all over the nation with zeal and enthusiasm, and people place the idols of Lord Krishna in his innocent, child-like form and worship him wholeheartedly.


Smartha & Vaishnava Sect: Who Are They?


In Hinduism, Vaishnavas are those who undertake the preachings from a Guru and adorn a mala, tilak, necklace and install the Conch and Chakra to worship. They consider Lord Vishnu to be Supreme One. On the other hand, Smarthas are known to be the worshippers of the Five Gods, i.e. Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, Surya and Shakti. in Hinduism, the ones who follow a domestic life are known as Smarthas.

Janmashtami To Be Celebrated On 24 August By Both Sects


This year, the festival of Janmashtami will be celebrated by both the sects on 24 August itself. The followers of Smarta sect will fast on 23 August, as the Ashtami tithi will fall at midnight, whereas followers of Vaishnava sect will observe the fast on 24 August itself. 

Fasting Date For Janmashtami 


According to the information, the people of the Smarta community will observe the Shri Krishna Janmashtami fast on August 23, Friday, and perform the Parana on August 24, Saturday. On the other hand, the followers of Vaishnavism will fast on August 24, Saturday and perform the Parana on the same day itself. Smarta sect celebrate this festival as Krishnashtami, and Vaishnava sect celebrate this day as Gokulashtami on the second day. Followers of Vaishnav and Smarta sects follow different rituals to celebrate this festival. Below are the date of the fast:

Janmashtami Fast Date for Smartha Sect: on 23 August

Janmashtami Fast Date for Vaishnava Sect: on 24 August

Krishna Janmashtami Puja Muhurat


Janmashtami Puja Muhurat 2019
Janmotsav Date24 August 2019
Nishith Puja Muhurat24:01:33 to 24:45:46
Duration0 Hour 44 Minutes

Note: The above mentioned Muhurat is for New Delhi only. Know Muhurat for your city here, Janmashtami Auspicious Muhurat

Importance of Janmashtami in Hinduism


Hindu Calendar encourages the celebration of this festival on the Ashtami during the month of Bhadrapada. As per the beliefs, that Lord Krishna was born at midnight on the Ashtami to Devaki and Vasudeva as their eighth child in the prison of Demon King Kansa. His birth took place when the planet Moon was rising with Rohini Nakshatra during the dark fortnight. On this day, the devotees visit the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna, i.e. Mathura, as well as Vrindavan to seek his blessings, fast the whole day, sing devotional songs, and enact the Ras Lila, also known as Krishna Lila.


Janmashtami For Childless Couples


In the year 2019, Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga and Amrit Siddhi Yoga forming during Rohini Nakshatra on the Ashtami tithi is creating an auspicious muhurat for couples who wish to have a child. On this propitious occasion of Janmashtami, childless couples must fast while following the puja rituals and install Santan Gopal Yantra at their altars or homes facing North or East. Also, following mantra must be chanted when worshipping the Lord:

ऊं श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं देवकीसुत गोविंद वासुदेव जगत्पते। देहि मे तनयं कृष्णं त्वामहं शरणं गत: क्लीं ऊं।।
ūṃ śrīṃ hrīṃ klīṃ glauṃ devakīsuta goviṃda vāsudeva jagatpate। dehi me tanayaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gata: klīṃ ūṃ।।

Janmashtami Puja Rituals


  • Wake up and take a bath early and wear clean clothes.
  • Bathe the idol of Bal Gopal or Lord Krishna with a mixture of Ganga Jal, Milk, Curd, Ghee, Sugar or Mishri, Honey and Saffron or Kesar.
  • Now, bathe him with clean water.
  • Adorn him with beautiful clothes and jewellery.
  • At midnight, offer the Bhoga to Lord Krishna and recite the aarti.
  • Offer white sweets, and Kheer made of Rice or Sabudana with dried fruits and nuts. Use Mishri instead of Sugar and Tulsi water to prepare the Kheer. 
  • Distribute the Prashad.
  • In case you’re fasting, observe the Parna on the ninth day or Navami tithi the next day.
  • Offer cow’s milk to Lord Krishna in case you wish to make you love life stronger. After this, do the Abhishek with Panchamrit. 
  • Makhan-Mishri or Butter-Sugar can be offered to the Lord to attain happiness and worldly pleasures. After this, use raw Lassi to perform the Abhishek.
  • Mix Tulsi with milk and offer it to the Lord Krishna to eliminate any physical disorders. Just like above, use raw Lassi to perform the Abhishek.
  • Perform the Abhishek using Sugarcane juice and offer sweet ladoos to the Lord to get rid of work-related obstacles.

Do’s & Don’ts on Janmashtami


  • Do not behave rudely with anyone on the auspicious day of Janmashtami. Help the needy and poor as much as you can.
  • Avoid uprooting or cutting any plant or tree on this day. 
  • Worship the old idol of Kanha so as to maintain the peace and serenity within the house. 
  • Put Tulsi leaves in the Bhoga offered to the Lord. 
  • Pour milk from the Conch shell on the idol of Bal Gopal and perform Abhishek. Along with it, worship Goddess Laxmi as well. This will strengthen your financial conditions.
  • Put a Red Chunri on the Tulsi plant on this day, light a diya with Ghee and chant the mantra “ॐ वासुदेवाय नम: / oṃ vāsudevāya nama:”.

We hope that you like this article on Janmashtami. To read in detail, click here. We wish you all a very Happy Janmashtami.

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