On the eighth day of the black half of Bhadra (August-September) Sri Krishna, the eighth Avatar or incarnation of Vishnu was born. Therefore, this day is well known as Janmashthami or Krishna Janmashthami. This auspicious day of the birth of Krishna, the direct manifestation of Vishnu is celebrated in all parts of India. He incarnated himself primarily to destroy evil and wickedness and to establish Dharma.

LEGEND: The demon king Kansa was a great and dreaded tyrant, but he loved his sister Devaki, and at her marriage with Vasudev, he out of great affection, drove their marriage chariot. Then, all of a sudden everything went topsy-turvy when an oracle told him that the eighth born of Devaki shall be the cause of his doom and death. At this he would have killed her then and there, but Vasudev intervened and promised to give him over each and every child born to them. They kept their promise, and Kansa killed the six children born to them one after the other. The couple could do nothing except remaining mute witness to this act of cruelty, for they were chained, inside the prison and kept under strict vigil. The seventh child born to them was saved by divine grace.

The eighth son Krishna, when he was born it so happened that with divine grace, the guards fell asleep, their chains loosened and the gates of the prison cell opened. Vasudev took the child to his friend Nand's house in Gokul. He entrusted his son with Nand and in exchange carried the baby girl born to Nand and Yashoda. When Kansa heard the birth of a girl child, he at once rushed to the prison cell, and lifted the female child high, catching it by the feet. When he was about to dash her against the rock she slipped from Kansa's grip and assuming the beautiful form of the Divine Mother vanished in the sky saying, "Wretch! Thy destroyer is flourishing in Gokul". People at Gokul were happy at the birth of a son to Nanda and Yashoda. Yashoda was quite unaware of the exchange that had taken place during the night.

The Janmasthami celebrations start right from the early morning with a bath in sacred waters and prayers. The celebration reaches its climax at midnight with the rising of the moon, which marks the divine birth. On this auspicious day strict fast is observed which is broken only after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. The temples and homes are decorated, scenes depicting Krishna's birth and his childhood pranks. Child Krishna's image or statue is placed in a richly decorated swing and rocked with tender care all the day by the devotees. At midnight, time after the birth of Lord Krishna, a smaller image of toddling Krishna is bathed in Chanamrit, amidst chanting of hymns, blaring of the conches, ringing of the bells and joyous shouting of 'victory to Krishna'.

In Gokul and Mathura, this festival is celebrated with great religious fervor and enthusiasm and the special deliberations of the day are relayed on the television and radio. People from distant places congregate at Mathura and Vrindavan on this day to participate in the festival. The piety and fast observed on this day ensures the birth of good sons, and salvation after death. Reading and recitation of the Bhagvadam and Geet Govindam are recommended on this day.