Janmashtami is the eighth night of the waning Moon in the Assamese month of Bhado. Krishna is the one God of Assam's Vaishnavism, and the night of his birth is kept in every namghar and satra with a fast, naam-kirtan through the evening, and often a bhaona, a play of song, dance and masks. The month of Bhado as a whole is sacred: it holds the death anniversaries of both Sankardev and Madhavdev.
The story
Sankardev's plays, the Ankiya Nat, were written to teach the Bhagavata to people who could not read. The actors are villagers, the narrator sings in Brajavali, and the masks of demons and animals come from Majuli.
Krishna's childhood is sung in the borgeet, composed in the classical ragas, which the monks of the satras still learn by ear.
How it is kept
- UpabasA fast until the midnight birth.
- Naam-kirtanIn the namghar, led by the naam-loguwa.
- BhaonaPlays on the birth and childhood of Krishna.
- Mah-prasadSoaked gram, moong, fruit and coconut, shared after the prayers.
Why this date
Janmashtami is the Ashtami of the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Shravana, on the day it covers midnight. It falls in the Assamese month of Bhado.
Janmashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Assamese festivals
17 AugustRakhi Bandhanৰাখী বন্ধন
4 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiগণেশ চতুৰ্থী
18 JulyGuru Purnimaগুৰু পূৰ্ণিমা
7 OctoberMaha Ashtamiমহা অষ্টমী
14 JulyShayan Ekadashiশয়ন একাদশী
9 OctoberMaha Navamiমহা নৱমী
Where to see Janmashtami
In Assam
- Batadrava Than, BordowaAssamJanmashtami at the birthplace of Sankardev.
- Samaguri Satra, MajuliAssamThe home of the mask-makers, whose work is used across Assam.
- Hayagriva Madhava Temple, HajoAssamThe hill temple of Vishnu, west of Guwahati.
Across India
- ImphalManipurThe Govindajee temple of the Manipuri kings.
- MathuraUttar PradeshThe birthplace, with the midnight bathing of the infant.
- PuriOdishaThe birth is celebrated in the temple of Jagannath.