Shri Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami or Gokulashtami.

Gokulashtami or Gokul Ashtami, popularly known as Janmashtami or Sri Krishna Jayanti, celebrates the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna. In 2009, the date of Gokulashtami is August 14. Gokulashtami is celebrated with great fervor in India. In South India it is celebrated in a spectacular way.
In South Indian states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, various temples of Sri Krishna celebrate the fest with utmost devotion. Not only Krishna mandirs, all Vaishnava temples consider the festival as a major one.

Udupi Sri Krishna temple in Karnataka and Guruvayur Guruvayurappa temple in Kerala are the most predominant temples of Sri Krishna in modern times. In Udupi and Guruvayur, Janmashtami festival brings out all the joy and devotion from devotees. In ISKCON Temples in Bangalore and Hyderabad, Gokulashtami celebrations provide a spectacular look and feel.

If you plan to celebrate or perform rituals at home on the day, the ideal method will be to recite the mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’ This can be done while performing pujas or throughout the day. Pujas involve offering flowers and performing Arati. Reciting or listening to Srimad Bhagavad Purna or Bhagavatam is highly auspicious on the day. Some devotees observe fast and spend time in temples or listening to discourses.



The main worship in temples takes place at midnight when Lord Krishna was born. It must be remembered here that Lord Krishna is happy with anything that is offered to him in true devotion. Krishna was happy with sweat drenched beaten rice offered by Kuchela or Sudama. He was happy with the last leaf left in Draupadi’s Akaheyapatra. He was content with the gruel in Vidura’s (Dhritarashtra’s minister in Mahabharata) home. So, one need not indulge in complex rituals to please Krishna. Just the japa ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ rendered devotionally is more than enough.