Krishna Janmashtami 2025 is around the corner and we can’t wait for vibrant dahi handi celebrations and the unmissable treat of freshly made makhan. Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and the protector of the universe. This year, Hindus all over India and abroad will celebrate Krishna Janmashtami on August 16, 2025, to celebrate his birth. Do you know the story of Janmashtami and how it is celebrated?

Krishna Janmashtami 2025: The story behind Lord Krishna’s birth

At the stroke of midnight, when the world was asleep, Lord Krishna was born to change the course of history. According to Hindu mythology, it was prophesied that the son of King Kansa’s sister, Devaki, would end his tyrannical reign, thereby bringing peace to the city of Mathura. To protect himself, Kansa tried to kill his sister and her husband. But upon Vasudeva’s pleading, he spared Devaki’s life but imprisoned her and Vasudeva. Kansa also made sure that none of their children survived.

Kansa killed seven of Devaki and Vasudeva’s sons, and Lord Krishna was the eighth son born to them. On the night of his birth, Kansa was sleepless. At the same time, Vasudeva, determined to ensure his son’s survival, went out in a raging storm across the river Yamuna, carrying his son in a basket. As soon as Krishna was born, Vasudeva left the prison with his son and reached Gokul. There, he pleaded with a cowherd couple, Nanda and Yashoda, to raise Krishna as their own child. The same night, Yashoda had given birth to a daughter. So, Vasudeva took their daughter and left Krishna at Gokul with Yashoda and Nanda.

How Lord Krishna escaped Kansa’s wrath

When Vasudeva came back to his prison with a girl child, Kansa was surprised to see that Devaki gave birth to a daughter instead of a son. Yet, he killed the child and believed himself safe from the prophecy. Krishna’s divine birth was closely related to eradicating evil.

Krishna used supernatural wit to combat King Kansa’s sorceries. Lord Krishna was widely popular among the gopiyaan of Gokul. He would often mesmerise them with his ability to play the flute. Another important part of Krishna’s life is his relationship with Radha. To this day, people look up to the bond between Lord Krishna and Radha as the epitome of love.

Krishna Janmashtami 2025: How to celebrate

Hindus observe Krishna Janmashtami on the Ashtami, the eighth day after Rakshabandhan. People in many parts of India, especially Mathura and Vrindavan, celebrate the festival for two days. The reason is that Ashtami is calculated from sunrise to the next sunrise. Some people sit through the night, singing folk songs about Lord Krishna. They also prepare his favourite meals with milk and curd. He is also regarded as Makhanlal because of his fondness for buttermilk. Hindus also observe a fast on the first day of Krishna Janmashtami and wait till midnight to break their fast.

Furthermore, Janmashtami is a very joyous festival for Hindus. They engage in different cultural activities. Lord Krishna’s temples are decorated with peacock feathers and other colourful accessories. The temple authorities place the younger version of Lord Krishna’s idol in a cradle to celebrate his birth. Devotees visit these temples and participate in plays to re-enact Lord Krishna’s life story. They dance and sing bhajans to commemorate his birth. 

Another remarkable tradition of Janmashtami includes the Dahi Handi. People form a systematic human pyramid by standing on each other’s shoulders. A young boy climbs to the top of the pyramid to break the dahi handi or clay pot with buttermilk inside. This tradition commemorates Lord Krishna’s playful and adventurous years of childhood.

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