Shri Krishna Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi Pooja Preparation – Some Tips

In some places Krishna Janmastami is celebrated on Wednesday 6th and in some Thursday7th. So, please check your calendars and celebrate accordingly.

Many of you have asked me how I prepare for one of the most exciting and beloved Festivals we have, Shri Krishna Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi or whatever name you wish to give this festival. It is celebrated all over the world. With the invent of internet, everyone wants to perform this festival and is looking for tips especially if you are working.  Based on decades of experience I have in observing as performed by my parents and performing the festival myself since I got married,  I am sharing some tips and tricks which will make it easy and not to stress out.

Remember, at the end of the day it is the Bhakthi and devotion which you can offer the Lord which is of utmost importance not the count of items you cook.

Attached below are some tips and tricks I follow.

Grocery List:

I buy all items new for this and Ganesha festival. Just a habit, nothing else. I am not listing how many lbs/kgs to buy, left to your discretion. With the list below you can prepare all items listed in Recipe Section.

1. Rice Flour
2. Maida or All purpose flour
3. Besan
4. Urda dal flour
5. Red chilli powder
6. Hing
7. Oil
8. Moong Dal
9. Channa dal
10. Dry Coconut Powder
11. Salt
12. Thick Poha
13. Thin Poha
14. Sooji
15. Jaggery
16. Sugar
17. Jeera
18. Mustard Seeds
19. Ghee
20. Butter
21. Milk
22. Butter Milk since Yogurt is not used during this vrata
23. Coconut

Vegetables List:

1. Green chillies
2. Coriander leaves
3. Curry leaves
4. Green Chillies
5. Cucumber
6. Coconut
7. Capsicum

Pooja List:

I am hoping you have the daily pooja items like Haldi, Kumkum, etc etc. This list is specific for this day and in no particular order you can arrange them as you wish.

1. Flowers, buy assortment of all flowers as shown below:
2. Fruits, all fruits are allowed in this vrata.3. Banana plant and Leaves if available. 4. Argya Items – milk, water, lemon, coin and a dry date. Keep them ready!5. Prepare all the lamps to light, Mangalarathi and aarathi  using Ghee or Oil that you use.6. Make sure you have Rangoli, if you don’t have the dry powder, use Kundan Rangoli, a chalk and draw. If even that is not available, take some printouts and use them. I have used a combination of all of them as seen below. Draw small feet of Lord Krishna from the front door.

7. Prepare Gejje Vastra with Kumkum. No set number here, I use one set for each idol I keep.8. Make sure you have camphor, Agarbathi and also soaked for Mangalaruthi.

9. Prepare the cradle for Lord Krishna. Once you are done giving the Argya, we rock the cradle and sing the lullaby.

10. If not anything else, just offer butter, coconut and fruits.

11. The detailed pooja procedure is posted at the following link:

• Shri Krishna Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi