Why is Janmashtami celebrated at midnight?

Lord Krishna is believed to have been born at midnight, so the main puja and celebrations are timed to that hour.

Dahi Handi re-enacts young Krishna's playful habit of stealing butter and curd — teams form human pyramids to reach and break a pot (handi) of curd suspended high up.

Krishna Janmashtami

Celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

तिथी व समय: Ashtami (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually in August or September.

महत्व एवं कथा (Significance)

Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, born at midnight in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudev to end the tyranny of the demon king Kansa. Because he was born to save the world from evil, the festival is celebrated with great devotion at midnight — the believed hour of his birth.

In many regions, especially Maharashtra, the festival includes Dahi Handi the next day, re-enacting young Krishna's mischievous love for stealing butter and curd, where human pyramids are formed to break a pot of curd hung high above the ground.

पूजा विधि व परंपराएँ (Rituals & Customs)

Fasting through the day, breaking the fast at midnight
Decorating a cradle (jhula) for the infant Krishna idol
Midnight aarti and bhajans marking the moment of birth
Dahi Handi celebrations the following day