Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated across Raipur on Friday, September 4, with temples preparing special abhisheks, bhajan-kirtans, tableaux and midnight birth ceremonies. Several prominent temples in the city have planned elaborate programmes, while the celebrations will also extend to Raipur's City Kotwali, where the birth of Lord Krishna will be staged inside a recreated prison setting.

The festival commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna and is traditionally marked by fasting, devotional programmes and a midnight worship ceremony. In 2026, Janmashtami falls on September 4, although the Nishita period for the midnight ritual extends into the early hours of September 5.

Jaitusav Math to Offer 11 Quintals of Malpua

At Shri Jaitusav Math in Raipur's Purani Basti, preparations have been completed for the birth celebration of Thakurji. A bhajan sandhya is scheduled for 4 pm on September 4, followed by special golden adornment of the deity.

The Krishna birth ceremony will be held around midnight, accompanied by chanting and aarti. The temple will offer 11 quintals of malpua and one quintal of panjiri as bhog. Prasad distribution for devotees is scheduled from 5 pm on September 5.

101-Litre Milk Abhishek at Radha Krishna Temple

At the Radha Krishna Temple in Samta Colony, a special abhishek of Lord Krishna was performed with 101 litres of milkin the morning. The temple and deity have been given special decorations by craftsmen from Kolkata.

Tableau darshan began at 9 am, while devotional programmes and bhajans are scheduled for the evening. The midnight birth ceremony will be followed by a maha aarti.

Three-Day Festival at ISKCON Raipur

ISKCON Raipur at Tatibandh is hosting a multi-day Janmashtami celebration, with programmes including devotional dance, competitions, Krishna's childhood pastimes, bhajan-kirtan, pushpanjali and Kathak performances.

The celebrations include a maha abhishek at 9 pm, followed by the offering of Chhappan Bhog around midnight. A maha aarti is scheduled at 12:15 am. ISKCON's published programme also places Krishna Janmashtami on September 4, with the surrounding celebrations extending to September 5. 

Krishna's Birth to Be Staged at City Kotwali

A distinctive celebration will take place at the City Kotwali police station, where artists dressed as Vasudev, Devaki and prison guards will enact the birth of Lord Krishna.

At midnight, the lights at the police station will reportedly be switched off briefly to recreate the prison scene associated with Krishna's birth. The enactment will show Vasudev carrying the infant Krishna in a basket on his head before taking the deity from the recreated prison to Gopal Mandir in Sadar Bazaar amid devotional chants.

Four-Day Celebration at Dudhadhari Math

Dudhadhari Math and associated temples will continue Janmashtami celebrations until September 7. Bhajan-kirtan programmes began in the morning, while the main birth ceremony and aarti are scheduled around midnight.

The celebrations will conclude on September 7, observed as Ekadashi, with a final programme at midnight.

156-Year-Old Banke Bihari Temple Prepares

The Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Petha Line, Nayapara, is also observing Janmashtami with special rituals. Milk abhishek is scheduled from 8 am to 10 am, followed by shringar darshan at 11:30 am.

Bhajan programmes will continue during the afternoon and evening, with the Krishna birth celebration planned shortly after midnight, at 12:01 am, followed by aarti. The temple is said to be around 156 years old.

Giriraj Temple and Gopal Mandir Plan Special Programmes

At the Giriraj Temple in Boodhapara, worship arrangements include materials brought from the four major pilgrimage centres of Badrinath, Jagannath Puri, Rameswaram and Dwarka. Preparations for the festival reportedly began about a month in advance.

At Gopal Mandir in Sadar Bazaar, the Krishna birth ceremony will be held at midnight on September 4. On September 5, the temple will observe Nand Mahotsav, during which the deity will be placed in a cradle and devotees will celebrate the occasion through bhajans.

In Raigarh, the Shyam Temple and Gauri Shankar Temple have also planned midnight Krishna birth celebrations. Decorative tableaux will remain on display for two days, with devotees expected to visit from surrounding rural areas. Community feasts are scheduled at several places the following day.