Kriṣhṇa Janmāṣhṭamimarks the birthday celebration of Lord Kriṣhṇa and it falls on the eighth day of the dark half (Kriṣhṇa Pakṣha) of the month of Bhhādhrapadha in the Hindhu calendar (August or September), when the Rohiṇi Nakṣhathra (birth star of Lord Kriṣhṇa ) is the ascendant. Celebrations are made on different days in different regions based on their family traditions.

The festival is begun with fasting on the Sapthami (seventh day) to mark the occasion on Aṣhṭami (eighth day). Devotees keep awake the entire night to commemorate the birth of Lord Kriṣhṇa, who was born in the mid night and was later taken to a foster home by his father to keep him safe. At the mid night, idol of infant Kriṣhṇa is bathed, put in a cradle & worshipped .On the occasion, ladies make the impression of children’s feet in the houses with the rice flour paste symbolizing of the entry of infant Kriṣhṇa in their houses. Prayers are offered to God and then Prasādha is taken to break their fast. This is followed by a sumptuous feast among the family members & the relatives .Sweets made of milk, ghee and butter are exclusively prepared for the festival.

The festival has got its own fragrance in North India. Temples in Vrindhāvan and Mathhurā wear a festive look, devotional songs and dances form a part of the celebrations lasting for several days. Rāslīlā is a famous art form marking the occasion which portrays youthful Kriṣhṇa ’s association with the milk maids (Gopis) of his native land .Similarly, Dhhahi-Haṇḍi tradition of Maharashtra, depicts Lord Kriṣhṇa ’s childhood pranks wherein Kriṣhṇa and his young buddies helped themselves to butter and other goodies in the houses of their neighbours. Commemorating this event, people tie clay pots with curd and butter (Dhhahi-Haṇḍi) high above the ground and teams of young men compete to hit the pot with enthusiasm and joy.