Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, on the eighth day of the dark half of Bhadra. Krishna is said to have been born at midnight, so the celebrations reach their peak late at night.

Fasting and songs

Devotees fast during the day and gather at Krishna temples in the evening to sing bhajans and kirtans. Homes are decorated, and in many households a small cradle holds an image of the baby Krishna, surrounded by offerings of fruit, milk sweets and butter — Krishna's favourite food as a child.

Patan's Krishna Mandir

The most famous celebration in the valley is at the Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square, a stone shikhara temple completed in 1637 by King Siddhi Narasimha Malla. Its friezes tell stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. On Janmashtami night thousands of devotees queue to enter, and lamps burn on every ledge.

Near Sanothimi

Krishna temples in Bhaktapur and Thimi also hold vigils, with local music groups playing through the night. Radha–Krishna dances are part of Thimi's tradition of masked dances.

Tips

If you visit Patan on Janmashtami, go in the evening and be patient in the crowds. Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering temple areas.