Janmashtami starts with people fasting and staying awake until midnight to celebrate Lord Krishna's birth with prayers, songs, and breaking the fast.
Many places in India, like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Dwarka, claim to be Lord Krishna's birthplace, and they each have their special Janmashtami celebrations.
In Maharashtra, people make human pyramids to break a pot filled with curd or butter on Janmashtami, symbolizing young Krishna's playful act of stealing butter.
Krishna's love for Radha and the gopis is celebrated with a special dance called Ras Leela during Janmashtami in some places.
Krishna has many names like Govinda, Gopal, Nandlal, and Kanha, which are used in Janmashtami prayers and celebrations to represent his different qualities and roles.
On Janmashtami, people fast the whole day and only eat after midnight during the celebrations.
people sing special songs about Lord Krishna that tell his stories and show their love for him.
In temples and homes, people prepare a small cradle or swing for a baby Krishna statue, and they gently swing it to show their love and care for the divine child.
people like to read and talk about a special book called the Bhagavad Gita. In this book, Lord Krishna teaches important spiritual lessons to Arjuna.