Janmashtami 2026 Date and Core Muhurat
Krishna Janmashtami 2026 falls on Thursday, 3 September 2026. The Ashtami tithi of Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapada covers the midnight hour of that night, which is why the main puja is done at nishita kaal - the sacred midnight window of roughly 48 minutes centred on true local midnight. Dahi Handi follows the next morning, on 4 September 2026.
City-Wise Nishita Kaal Puja Timings
True midnight is the midpoint between sunset and the next sunrise, so it drifts by city. Approximate nishita windows for 3-4 September 2026 night:
- Mumbai - around 12:20 AM to 1:06 AM
- Delhi - around 12:03 AM to 12:49 AM
- Bangalore - around 12:14 AM to 1:00 AM
- Kolkata - around 11:36 PM to 12:22 AM
- Pune - around 12:19 AM to 1:05 AM
- Hyderabad - around 12:10 AM to 12:56 AM
- Ahmedabad - around 12:22 AM to 1:08 AM
These are close estimates. Always confirm against your own city panchang, since a few minutes' difference matters for a midnight abhishek.
How to Find Your Own City's Timing
If your city is not listed, the method is simple: note your local sunset on 3 September and sunrise on 4 September, find the midpoint, and take about 24 minutes on either side. That is your nishita kaal. Devotees abroad should follow the same rule with their local clock rather than Indian Standard Time - the deity is worshipped at your midnight, not India's. The Vandnaa panchang page lets you pick your city and shows the timing directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Janmashtami puja in 2026?+
The main puja is at nishita kaal on the night of 3-4 September 2026, roughly 12:03 AM in Delhi and 12:20 AM in Mumbai, lasting about 48 minutes.
Why do timings differ between cities?+
Nishita kaal is based on local sunset and sunrise, not on the clock. Eastern cities like Kolkata reach true midnight earlier than western cities like Ahmedabad.
About the author
Pandit Mahesh Trivedi · Festival Traditions & Panchang
Pandit Mahesh leads the festival-date and Panchang content on Vandnaa. He cross-references multiple regional panchangs (Drik, Vaishnava, Bengali, Marathi) for every festival date published on the site.
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