The Janmashtami fast is traditionally broken after midnight on the night of Krishna Janmashtami, the exact time believed to be the birth time of Lord Krishna. In 2025, Janmashtami falls on August 16, and the fast is typically broken immediately after the Nishita Puja, which occurs roughly between 12:04 AM and 12:47 AM on August 16. Devotees break their fast after offering prayers and aarti to Lord Krishna at this midnight hour. Alternatively, some traditions recommend breaking the fast the next day after sunrise, once both the Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra have ended. If these are not completed before sunset or Hindu midnight, fasting might continue until they conclude, sometimes extending the fast to two days. The recommended fast-breaking time (Parana) is thus either at midnight on Janmashtami day or after sunrise the following day, depending on one's customs and local astrological timings.
Summary of when to break Janmashtami fast:
- Commonly right after midnight after the Nishita Puja (around 12:04 AM to 12:47 AM).
- If tithi (Ashtami) and nakshatra (Rohini) extend beyond midnight, break fast after sunrise next day.
- Some may break fast the next morning after these astrological conditions are satisfied.
- It is important to follow local panchang (Hindu calendar) and family or community traditions for exact timing.
This observance is rooted in celebrating the moment of Lord Krishna’s birth with devotion and purity, ensuring the proper spiritual significance of the fast-breaking ritual.
