Janmashtami Recipes

 Recipes to celebrate Janmashtami which celebrates the birth of Krishna. These are prasaid ideas and fasting or vrat (upvas) friendly recipes!

Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, who is believed to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Devotees observe fasting, sing devotional songs, and visit temples on this day. 

It is celebrated on September 6 in 2023 and dahi handi celebrations on September 7.

Often milk based recipes are prepared.

These are just a few examples of the dishes prepared for Janmashtami. The specific dishes and customs may vary from one region to another within India, and individual families may have their own traditions and preferences for this auspicious day.

Janmashtami Recipes

The types of dishes prepared for Janmashtami can vary by region and personal preference, but here are some common dishes that are often prepared for the festival:

    Makhan Misri

This is a simple dish made by churning yogurt (curd) to make fresh butter (makhan) and then mixing it with sugar (misri). It is offered to Lord Krishna as he is famously known for his love of butter.

    Panjiri

Panjiri is a sweet dish made with whole wheat flour, ghee (clarified butter), sugar, and various nuts and seeds. It is a popular Janmashtami delicacy.

 Peda

Peda is a traditional Indian sweet made from milk and flavored with cardamom. It is often offered as prasad (offering) during Janmashtami celebrations.

    Kheer

Sabudana kheer is perfect if you are fasting. If not fasting, rice kheer or vermicelli kheer is a common dessert prepared during Janmashtami. It is a sweet, creamy rice or vermicelli pudding made with milk and sugar.

Snacks

Various snacks like pakoras (deep-fried fritters), samosas, and potato chips are also prepared and offered during Janmashtami. These snacks are made with ingredients that are allowed during fasting.

Chappan Bhog

Chappan Bhog is a special offering of 56 different food items to Lord Krishna. It includes a wide variety of sweets, savories, fruits, and other dishes.

Here are some fasting friendly recipes you can include!

  Fruits

Lord Krishna was known to love fruits, especially bananas and milk. So, offering a variety of fruits is a common practice during Janmashtami.

  Janmashtami Recipes Special Indian Drinks

Some people prepare special drinks like buttermilk or flavored milk (thandai) to offer to Lord Krishna and also to break their fast.

 Sabudana Khichdi Or Moraiyo Khichdi

In some regions, sabudana (tapioca pearls) khichdi is a popular fasting dish for Janmashtami. It is made with soaked sabudana, peanuts, and spices.

Coconut Ladoo

Coconut ladoos, made from grated coconut and condensed milk, are a delicious sweet often prepared for Janmashtami.

How is Janmashtami celebrated?

Janmashtami, the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth, is marked by various traditional rituals and customs observed by Hindus across India and other parts of the world. These rituals may vary in detail from one region to another, but some common and widely followed traditional Janmashtami rituals include:

Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast on Janmashtami, abstaining from food and water until midnight when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. The fast may vary in its strictness, with some people refraining from all grains and others consuming only certain types of food allowed during fasting, such as fruits, milk, and nuts.

Temple Visits: Devotees visit temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, particularly the famous Krishna temples like the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura and the ISKCON temples worldwide. They offer prayers, sing devotional songs, and participate in special aarti (worship) ceremonies.

Midnight Celebration: The birth moment of Lord Krishna, believed to be at midnight, is the main highlight of Janmashtami. Devotees engage in the Krishna Janmotsav, which involves singing devotional songs, reading sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita, and celebrating the birth with great enthusiasm.

Swinging of Baby Krishna: In temples and some homes, an idol or image of the infant Lord Krishna is placed in a cradle and gently rocked. Devotees take turns swinging the cradle as a symbolic gesture of celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

Rasa Lila Recitation: The Rasa Lila, which describes the divine love dance of Lord Krishna with the gopis (cowherd girls), is often recited or enacted through dance dramas in temples and cultural performances.

Bhajans and Kirtans: Devotees sing bhajans (devotional songs) and perform kirtans (devotional singing and dancing) dedicated to Lord Krishna. These musical offerings are an essential part of the celebrations.

Dressing Up the Deity: The deity of Lord Krishna in temples is often dressed in new and ornate clothing, jewelry, and flower garlands. Devotees believe that the Lord appreciates being adorned on this special day.

Offerings and Prasadam: Devotees prepare special dishes as offerings (bhog) to Lord Krishna. These offerings include sweets, fruits, and other vegetarian delicacies. After being offered to the deity, the food is distributed as prasadam (blessed food) to devotees.

Breaking the Fast: After midnight, devotees break their fast by consuming prasadam or other permissible foods. This marks the end of the fasting period.

Dahi Handi: In some regions, young men form human pyramids to reach and break a pot filled with curd or buttermilk (dahi) suspended at a height. This reenacts Lord Krishna’s childhood pranks of stealing butter from pots.

Decorations and Rangoli: Homes and temples are often decorated with colorful rangoli (artistic designs made with colored powders) and flower arrangements to create a festive atmosphere.

Hope you enjoyed this list of Janmashtami recipes and learning about how it is celebrated!