To do Krishna Janmashtami Puja at home, follow these key steps:
- Set up a clean and beautiful puja area with a Krishna idol, decorated with fresh flowers, incense sticks, and diyas.
- Wake up early on Janmashtami day, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.
- Give a bath to the Krishna idol using water or Panchamrit (milk, honey, yogurt, ghee, and water), then dress the idol in new clothes and adorn it with jewelry, garlands, and a peacock feather.
- Place the idol on a decorated platform or a Jhula (swing) if available.
- Offer water at Krishna’s feet, then bathe the idol. Apply sandalwood paste, kumkum, and dress it.
- Offer bhog/prasad such as sweets (laddoos, makhan/butter), fruits, dry fruits, and Panchamrit on a clean plate with tulsi leaves.
- Chant Krishna mantras (e.g., "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" or Hare Krishna Mahamantra) and sing bhajans/devotional songs.
- Light diyas and incense sticks around the idol, and perform aarti (circling the idol with a lit lamp).
- At midnight (Krishna’s birth time), perform special prayers and more singing. Distribute prasad after the puja.
This puja is performed with devotion to celebrate Krishna’s birth and seek his blessings at home.
