Date of Janmashtami 2023:
Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Lord Krishna, who is described in the holy scriptures as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna appeared on the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada, which comes in the month of either August or September, in Mathura. This day is also known as Gokulashtami. This year Janmashtami will be celebrated on the 7th of September, Thursday.
Shubh Muhurta and Worship Method of Janmashtami:
The Ashtami Tithi will commence at 03:40 pm on the 6th of September 2023 and end at 04:14 pm on the 7th of September 2023. According to the followers of Vaishnavism, if in the morning sunrise there is saptamī. We don’t observe that day as Janmāṣṭamī. And if the next day the whole day is not aṣṭamī, but in the morning, at the time of sunrise, there is aṣṭamī. We accept that as Janmāṣṭamī. Therefore the Janmāṣṭamī fasting will be observed on 7th of September—from sunrise to 12 o’clock at night. Lord Krishna‘s abhishek and arati is done at midnight on Janmashtami. All pots are first placed and arranged near the place of worship. Items used in Abhishek are:
- 2 pots of water
- 1 pot of milk
- 1 pot of curd
- 1 pot of honey
- 1 pot of water mixed with jaggery or sugar
- 1 pot of lukewarm water
- 1 pot of water mixed with turmeric powder
- Ghee in a small vessel
A Tulsi leaf is placed on each item, and the Deities’ dress is changed. A photo/deity of Srila Prabhupada and Guru Parampara is placed below them. Hare Kṛṣṇa kirtan and chanting of Sri Brahma-saṁhitā prayers are accompanied during the abhishek.
How Can We Celebrate Janmashtami 2023?
On the day of Janmāṣṭamī one should wake up early in the morning during the brāhma-muhūrta (one and a half hours before sunrise). Upon waking up, Mangala Arti is performed, and then the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra should be chanted throughout the day. One should engage himself in hearing the glories of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, from the scriptures. Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, has written a Kṛṣṇa book summarising the life and pastimes of Lord Krishna. It is recommended to read that. One should fast on the day of Janmashtami.
One can perform Abhishek of Radha Krishna Deities from milk, ghee, sugar water, panchagavya, panchamrita, various types of juices, holy water, and coconut water. New clothes and jewellery should be offered to the Lordships. At midnight, Arti is yet again offered to the Lordships, and bhoga is offered. The worship of the Lord should be accompanied by the chanting of auspicious mantras and Hare Kṛṣṇa kirtan.
Melodious kirtans and bhajans can be performed throughout the day for the pleasure of the Lord, along with plays and dramas on Lord Krishna’s pastimes.
What Is Krishna Janmashtami’s Fasting Method?
Fasting is an austerity. According to Guru, Krishna, and Shastra, all austerity is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. The purpose of fasting is to minimise bodily demands and engage in hearing and chanting more. The highest form is to fast completely from all eating and drinking. If that is not possible, then fast from everything but water, and if that is not possible either, then some fruit and non-grain Prasadam (no grains, no beans) can be accepted.
It is better to fast till midnight and then break the fast with Sankalpa (fruits, roots, and milk). One should not take grains, beans, and other prohibited vegetables.
Offerings on Janmashtami:
In Bhagavad Gita 9.26, Lord Krishna says, If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Krishna accepts the love and devotion of the devotee who has prepared this offering for Him.
Krishna likes milk products, and he can offer many sweets like Sandesh, rasgulla, ras malai, gulab jamun, and a variety of laddoos. Here are some traditional sweets that are an intrinsic part of Janmashtami 2023 celebrations:
- Peda
- kheer
- Makkhan Mishri
- Shrikhand
- Malpua
You can also offer him dry fruits, fruits, and milk, but you cannot include the packed food, garlic, onion, etc., on Krishna Janmashtami. Furthermore, in many temples around the world, an offering of 108 dishes is made to the Lordships.
What is the Famous Tradition of Janmashtami:
To celebrate the most auspicious day, all temples of Lord Krishna are decorated, processions, bhajans, kirtan, and satsangs are organised, and shlokas are read in groups from scriptures like the Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. Plays and dramas depicting the Lord’s life and dances are performed for the Lord’s pleasure.
In Vrindavan, the celebrations begin 10 days before Janmashtami arrives.
People in Tamil Nadu draw delicate patterns called Kolam, made with rice batter, on the entrances of their houses and tiny footprints of Bal Gopala coming into their houses.
Dhaniya panjri is a well-known preparation made during Janmashtami in Northern India, especially in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Many Bengali households celebrate Janmashtami by hosting Kathamo Puja in the morning to worship Lord Narayana, where a clay idol is built on a wooden frame. This then follows worshipping Radha Krishna in the evening. Food is a huge part of the Janmashtami celebration in Bengal. To celebrate Lord Krishna’s love for makhan, buttermilk, and ghee, bhog is prepared for the Lord.
The popular culture of celebrating Janmashtami in Eastern and Northeastern India is accredited to the teachings of 15th and 16th-century Sankardeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The people of Manipur perform the Manipuri dance, enacting Raslila – the divine, eternal dance of Radha and Krishna. New forms of performance arts were created to honour Lord Krishna, such as lyrical songs or Borgeet, Ankia Naat or one-act plays inspired by Lord Krishna’s worship, Sattriya nritya, now popular in West Bengal and Assam. These dance and drama arts are a huge part of Janmashtami 2023 tradition in these regions.
Dahi-Handi is also celebrated on this day in remembrance of the mischievous pastimes of the sweet Lord. Boys of all ages come together in a compound and form a human pyramid to break the Dahi pot fixed 30-40 feet from the ground. The boy who stands at the top to break the pot is called Govinda, and the groups are called mandals or handi.Spread joy to the world and celebrate this Krishna Janmashtami by booking an online Maha-Arti or Kalash Abhishekh from home.
