Janmashtami 2026: 4 or 5 September? Panchang Says This

हाथी घोड़ा पालकी, जय कन्हैया लाल की!

नंद के आनंद भयो, जय कन्हैया लाल की!


हाथी नाचे घोड़ा नाचे, और झूमे पालकी!


वृदांवन बरसाना नाचे, दे दे ताल जी!





Ashtami Tithi Begins: September 4, 2026 (early morning)

Ashtami Tithi Ends: September 5, 2026 (midnight/early hours)

Since the birthday of Lord Krishna occurs at midnight, the most auspicious date to celebrate Janmashtami is the 4th of September, 2026, which will be a Friday.

There may be some variations in the timing according to different places and the Panchang.



Nakshatra Rohini has a major importance in the legend of birth of Krishna. As per the tradition, the birth of Lord Krishna takes place on Ashtami Tithi and the night of Rohini Nakshatra.

However, in the case of 2026, the end of Nakshatra Rohini occurs at 11:04 PM on September 4, followed by Nakshatra Mrigashira. Thus, the birth ceremony which takes place at midnight occurs on Ashtami Tithi, but not on Rohini Nakshatra.

• Nishita Kaal Puja: 11:57 PM to 12:43 AM
• Janma Puja of Lord Krishna: The midnight is regarded as the most auspicious time for worshipping the birthday of Lord Krishna.
• Brahma Muhurta: 4:30 AM to 5:15 AM

Vrat Sankalp: The devotees observing the vrat can take sankalp after taking bath in the Brahma Muhurta.

• Abhijit Muhurta: 11:55 AM to 12:45 PM
• Amrit Kaal: 8:03 PM to 9:33 PM
• Most Important Time: Nishita Kaal from 11:57 PM to 12:43 AM

On Janamashtami night, during Nishita Kaal, first we should do Panchamrit Abhishek of Laddu Gopal. For preparing Panchamrit, we can use five items including water, milk, curd, honey, and Gangajal.

After doing Abhishek of Laddu Gopal, we should dress Him in new clothes. Place tilak on His forehead made out of sandalwood paste and decorate Him with new flowers.

Place incense sticks and diya in the puja place and do Aarti of Lord Krishna. Then do bhog puja of Lord Krishna with offerings like makhan mishri, among others.

use Tulsi leaves while performing puja of Lord Krishna and place them along with the bhog.

Devotees performing the Janmashtami vrat should adhere to the practices followed by their family members or religious groups. Where the vrat needs to be ended after the birth of Krishna, devotees can conduct the midnight puja first and then end their vrat after 12:43 AM when the allotted Nishita Kaal has been completed.

Some religious practices require devotees to end their vrat only after the sunrise. For this practice, devotees will be ending their vrat after the sunrise on September 5.

Because of differences in the fasting guidelines among Vaishnava and local Panchang, followers can take suggestions from family priests and Panchang respectively.

Janmashtami is not just an occasion celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna; it is also a hope, dharma, and divine knowledge in difficult times. The life of Krishna motivates his followers to remain firm and fulfill their duties in difficult times.

A few minutes before midnight, the followers offer their prayers for the birth of Krishna.The bells toll, the conch is sounded, and the whole temple reverberates with cries of “Hare Krishna” and “Jai Shri Krishna.”

For devotees, it is a reminder that God can manifest even in the darkest hour.