Janmashtami — the birthday of Lord Krishna — is one of the most anticipated devotional nights at CR Park’s Radha Krishna temple within the Kali Mandir complex. The 2026 celebration falls on September 4, with the main puja taking place around midnight.
The Celebration
The Radha Krishna temple is elaborately decorated days in advance, with the idol of baby Krishna dressed in new clothes and placed on a decorated jhula (swing). Devotees visit through the day to offer prayers and swing the jhula. Many observe a strict fast from sunrise, sustaining themselves on fruits and milk until the midnight hour.
Evening and Midnight Puja
The evening programme begins around 7:00 PM with bhajan and kirtan sessions. Singers perform devotional songs recounting Krishna’s childhood exploits — the butter-stealing, the playful mischief, the divine revelations. The energy builds through the night until Nishita Kaal (approximately 11:57 PM to 12:43 AM), when the main puja is conducted. Conch shells blow, bells ring, and the temple erupts in joyous chanting as the birth moment is marked.
Feasting After Midnight
After the puja, fasting devotees break their fast with prasad. The temple distributes panjiri, makhana, fruits, and sweets. Many families head home to prepare a full midnight meal — a rare and festive inversion of daily routine.
Practical Tips
- Arrive by 10 PM to get a comfortable spot near the sanctum for the midnight puja
- The temple gets crowded between 11 PM and 1 AM — be patient with queues
- September weather — warm and possibly humid; dress in light cotton
- Parking — limited after dark; walk or take an auto from Nehru Enclave metro