Janmashtami

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, marked by rituals, prayers, and festive activities
2. An annual celebration in the Hindu tradition that commemorates the arrival of Krishna into the world, featuring fasting and devotional songs
3. A culturally significant occasion in Hinduism that honors the divine birth of Krishna with dancing, reenactments, and communal gatherings

Etymology: Janmashtami is a compound of two Sanskrit elements: "janma," meaning birth, and "aṣṭamī," meaning the eighth. The name refers to the eighth day (the eighth lunar day, or tithi) of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada, the date on which Hindu tradition places the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The word therefore names a date on the calendar before it names a festival. The Sanskrit term "aṣṭamī" comes from "aṣṭa," meaning eight, and is the ordinary word for the eighth day of a lunar fortnight, used across many Hindu observances. Pairing it with "janma" turns a general calendar marker into a specific celebration, so the festival's name records both its timing and its subject.

Synonyms: Krishna Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, Janmashtami festival, Krishna Jayanti, Hindu festival