Janmashtami 2026 today: Mathura and Vrindavan glow in festive lights | WATCH
New Delhi: The festival of Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, is being celebrated across the nation with intense religious fervour on Friday. Devotees are observing day-long fasts, performing special rituals and visiting decorated temples. Homes and shrines across the country feature vibrant displays depicting scenes from Krishna’s life, including his childhood in Gokul and Vrindavan, alongside continuous devotional chanting and traditional offerings.
President Droupadi Murmu extended warm greetings to citizens on the auspicious occasion, emphasising that the life and teachings of Lord Krishna breathe new life into India’s cultural and philosophical heritage. In her message, the President noted that Lord Krishna’s teachings, embodied in the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, remain an eternal source of inspiration for humanity to make prudent decisions during difficult times and stay steadfast in moral values. She added that Janmashtami inspires everyone to uphold the spirit of harmony, devotion to duty, and selfless service.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also greeted the public, highlighting that devotion and love for Lord Krishna remain boundless among millions of devotees globally. He added that the profound wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita offers timeless guidance on duty, ethics, justice, wisdom, courage and balance in life.
In Uttar Pradesh, the twin holy towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, connected to Lord Krishna's birth and early life, lit up in elaborate illuminations. The Shri Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura presented a striking display of decorative lights across the temple complex. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also inaugurated the 'Kanha Bhakti Stambh' in the city as part of the festivities.
In Vrindavan, immense crowds gathered at the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir for the special Janmashtami aarti, with devotees navigating barricaded queues to take part in darshan. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the ISKCON Temple in East of Kailash witnessed heavy footfall, decorated with colourful light setups depicting Lord Krishna and Radha. Local authorities and police personnel have been deployed extensively across major temples in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to manage crowd flow and maintain security.
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, marks the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada.
(With ANI inputs)