Janmashtami 2020: Significance, Pooja Timings and Easy Prasad Recipes

Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna who is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Each year, the festival is celebrated on Ashtami date of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada (8th day of the month of Shravana), with much enthusiasm to welcome their beloved Krishna as Nande Gopal. This year, this festival will be celebrated on 11-12 August i.e. two days. According to astrologers, it is better to celebrate Janmashtami on August 12. People love to celebrate this festival with DahiHandi as Lord Krishna Usually loves to eat stole Makhan from Dahi Handi.

Devotees also portray the Raas Leela’, a retelling of Lord Krishna’s life story is also performed during the festival to enjoy the festival day.

Timings- On August 12, the auspicious time of worship is from midnight of 12: 05 minutes to 12: 47 minutes (duration of the puja will last for 43 minutes). May the brave deeds of Lord Krishna inspire you to face every problem with the knowledge that he will always be with you. Jai Shri Krishna!

Janmashtami recipes

Here is the list of Prasad that you can offer to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami and consume afterwards: 

• Dhaniya Panjiri: DhaniyaPanjiri is considered to be one of the most important prasad's and it is made with coriander seed powder, powdered sugar, ghee, chopped almonds, raisins, cashew nuts and mishri.

• Charnamrit/Panchamrit: Charnamrit is a sweet and milky concoction, which is distributed among devotees as part of Prasad which is made by blending milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and crushed jiggery all together, and is also used to bathe the feet of Lord Krishna's idol. It is also one of the easiest dishes to prepare for festivals at home.

• Kheer: It is usually prepared on Janmashtami and offered to Lord Krishna at midnight after the puja is done. Made from rice and condensed milk, and is quite easy-to-prepare as well. At the end Garnish it with grated almonds or pistachios and your prasad is ready.

List of items you can consume on the occasion of Vrat: 

• Singharekaatta (water chestnut flour)/ Kuttukaatta (buckwheat flour)- Poori are made from these

• Sabudana khichdi 

• Vrat wale aloo can be eaten without onion and garlic

• Kaddukisabzi

• Raw banana kofta

And avoid normal salt use rock salt or sendhanamak instead of normal salt to cook these foods. 

“Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.” - SrilaPrabhupada, Bhagavad Gita 18.78