Janmashtami: History, Date & Significance
Janmashtami is the birth tithi of Lord Krishna, the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra. In Bangladesh the main event is the Janmashtami procession in Old Dhaka, which goes back centuries. Devotees fast and sing kirtan through the day.
Janmashtami 2027: Date
- English Date
- Wednesday, August 25, 2027
- Bengali Date
- 10 Bhadra 1434
- Hijri Date
- 22 Rabi' al-Awwal 1449 AH
- Days Left
- 324 days
Traditional almanac timings for 1434
Dates and windows by the Surya Siddhanta panjika used in Bengal. They can differ from official holiday dates by a day.
Janmashtami — Wed, August 25, 2027
- Nishita (midnight): 11:44 PM – 12:32 AM (Aug 26)
Nandotsav — Thu, August 26, 2027
Full panjika for that day →
History of Janmashtami
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He was born at midnight in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva while they were held prisoner by the tyrant Kamsa. The birth is observed on the Ashtami, the eighth day, of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, and devotees fast until midnight, the hour of his birth.
Dhaka’s Janmashtami procession is one of the oldest continuing traditions of the city, first taken out from the Dhakeshwari temple area in the sixteenth century. Suppressed at various points in history, the procession was revived in 1989 and today winds through Old Dhaka as the centerpiece of the national celebration. Janmashtami is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
How Janmashtami Is Celebrated
- The historic Janmashtami procession through Old Dhaka from the Dhakeshwari temple
- Fasting until midnight, the hour of Krishna’s birth
- Abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Krishna idol at midnight
- Kirtan, bhajans, and readings from the Bhagavata Purana at temples
- Temples decorated with lights and cradles for the infant Krishna (Gopal)
Janmashtami Dates for the Next 5 Years
| Year | Date | Day | Bengali Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* | August 25, 2027 | Wednesday | 10 Bhadra 1434 |
| 2028* | August 13, 2028 | Sunday | 29 Srabon 1435 |
| 2029* | September 1, 2029 | Saturday | 17 Bhadra 1436 |
| 2030* | August 21, 2030 | Wednesday | 6 Bhadra 1437 |
| 2031* | August 10, 2031 | Sunday | 26 Srabon 1438 |
* Dates for coming years are calculated and may change when the government announces its holiday list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Holidays
Pohela Boishakh
April 14, 2027
Eid-ul-Fitr
March 10, 2027
Eid-ul-Adha
May 17, 2027
Durga Puja
October 20, 2026
Victory Day
December 16, 2026
Independence Day
March 26, 2027
Ekushey February
February 21, 2027
Shab-e-Barat
January 24, 2027
Shab-e-Qadr
March 7, 2027
Ashura
June 16, 2027
Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi
August 15, 2027
Buddha Purnima
May 20, 2027
Christmas Day
December 25, 2026
May Day
May 1, 2027
July Mass Uprising Day
August 5, 2027