Janmashtami wishes
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Homes and temples are decorated, a cradle is set up for the infant Krishna, many people fast through the day, and the birth is celebrated at midnight. These wishes are warm, respectful and our own words.
Wishes
Happy Janmashtami. May there be butter in the kitchen, music in the house and peace in every heart.
Jai Shri Krishna. Wishing you and your family a joyful Janmashtami.
May the little one who stole butter steal your worries too. Happy Janmashtami.
To the little Krishna of your house: you looked splendid, flute and all. Happy Janmashtami.
Wishing you an easy fast, a happy midnight and prasad worth the wait.
The cradle is decorated and the bhajans have begun. Happy Janmashtami to everyone at home.
May your home be filled with the sound of the flute and the laughter of children. Happy Janmashtami.
Good luck to the Dahi Handi team. Climb carefully and come down smiling.
On Janmashtami, wishing you a heart as light as a child's.
हिन्दी में
जन्माष्टमी की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। आपके घर में सुख, शांति और आनंद बना रहे।
जय श्री कृष्ण। नंदलाल के जन्मोत्सव की आपको और आपके परिवार को बधाई।
माखन मिश्री की मिठास और बाँसुरी की धुन आपके घर में बनी रहे। जन्माष्टमी मुबारक।
आपके घर के नन्हे कान्हा को ढेर सारा प्यार। जन्माष्टमी की बधाई।
झूला सजा है, भजन शुरू हो गए हैं। कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी की शुभकामनाएँ।
व्रत सफल हो और मन प्रसन्न रहे। जन्माष्टमी की हार्दिक बधाई।
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ
ਜਨਮ ਅਸ਼ਟਮੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ। ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਸੁੱਖ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਬਣੀ ਰਹੇ।
ਜੈ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ। ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਨਮ ਅਸ਼ਟਮੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ।
Nothing matches. Try a shorter word, or choose All.
How the day is kept
- Fasting through the day, broken after the midnight celebration.
- A decorated cradle, or jhula, for the infant Krishna, which family members take turns to rock.
- Bhajans and kirtan in homes and temples through the evening.
- Children dressed as little Krishna and Radha, in schools and housing societies.
- Dahi Handi, especially in Maharashtra: young people form a human pyramid to reach and break a pot of curd hung high above the street.
- Jhankis, or tableaux, showing scenes from Krishna's childhood.
Mathura and Vrindavan, linked with Krishna's birth and childhood, draw great crowds. The date follows the lunar calendar and changes every year, falling in August or September, and communities sometimes keep it on two successive days. Check the calendar or your temple.
Make it yours
- For a family with a small child: a wish for the little Krishna of the house, with thanks for the photograph.
- For someone fasting: a wish for an easy fast.
- For friends: makhan, mishri and mischief are fair game, kept affectionate.
- The customary greeting is "Happy Janmashtami" or "Jai Shri Krishna".
Keep it respectful
These wishes do not quote scripture and make no promises on anyone's behalf. Playful lines about butter and the flute are in the loving spirit in which Krishna's childhood has always been told. Avoid jokes that would hurt a devotee, and avoid film songs as greetings in formal or family groups.
A safe Dahi Handi
Human pyramids are a risk. Organisers follow safety rules laid down by the local authorities, and participants and onlookers should follow them too. Children should watch from a distance.
Make it yours
- Send the wish in the evening. The celebration is at midnight, and families are busy until then.
Questions
When is Janmashtami?
The date changes every year, as it follows the lunar calendar. It falls in August or September. Check the calendar for the year.