The festival of Janmashtami is not just a celebration; it’s an emotion. Across India, streets light up with devotional songs, temples glow with divine décor, and homes echo with the chants of 'Hare Krishna.' In 2025, this auspicious occasion marking the birth of Lord Krishna will be celebrated on August 16, with devotees observing a day-long fast to honour the beloved deity.
While the rituals and prayers hold spiritual significance, what you eat and don’t eat during and after the fast plays a big role in keeping the sanctity of Janmashtami intact. From traditional vrat foods to forbidden items that can unknowingly break your fast, here’s a complete guide to observing Janmashtami the right way.
What You Can Eat During the Janmashtami Fast?
If you’re keeping a Nirjala fast, you’ll refrain from both food and water until the parana (breaking of the fast) at midnight. But many devotees opt for a phalahar vrat (fruit-based fast), where certain satvik foods are allowed:
- Fresh fruits like banana, apple, papaya, and grapes
- Dry fruits such as almonds, cashews, raisins, and dates
- Milk and milk-based drinks - plain milk, lassi, or buttermilk
- Coconut water for hydration
- Sabudana (tapioca) dishes like sabudana kheer or sabudana khichdi
- Potato preparations - boiled, roasted, or lightly sautéed with rock salt
- Sama rice (barnyard millet) - often used for khichdi or pulao
- Buckwheat flour (kuttu) and water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta) for making puris or halwa
These foods are not just filling but also align with the purity of the vrat.
Foods You Must Avoid During the Janmashtami Fast
Even a small mistake in your vrat diet can break its sanctity. Steer clear of these items:
- Rice and wheat-based products
- Sweet potato pakoras or any fried snack made with regular flour
- Vegetables like carrots, gourds, and beetroot
- All lentils - moong, masoor, toor, chana
- Refined sugar (use jaggery or natural sweeteners instead)
- Regular salt (use sendha namak/rock salt)
- Tea and coffee
- Non-vegetarian food in any form
When to Break the Janmashtami 2025 Fast?
On August 16, 2025, devotees can break their fast right after the midnight aarti of Kanha Ji. This year, the exact time to break the fast is 12:47 AM.
However, some devotees choose to wait until sunrise the next morning. In that case, the auspicious time to break the fast will be 5:51 AM on August 17, 2025.
What to Eat When Breaking the Janmashtami Fast?
The first food you consume after the fast should ideally be the prasadam offered to Lord Krishna during the puja. Common offerings include:
- Fruits and panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee)
- Fresh butter and panjiri - favourites of Bal Gopal
- Sabudana khichdi or sabudana kheer
- Light satvik meals like boiled potatoes with rock salt, sama rice pulao, or milk-based sweets
Janmashtami is more than a festival; it’s a day of devotion, discipline, and joy. Whether you’re observing a strict Nirjala vrat or a phalahar vrat, following the right fasting rules ensures both spiritual fulfilment and physical well-being. So, as the clock strikes midnight on August 16, break your fast with love, purity, and offerings blessed by Lord Krishna.
Also Read: Krishna Janmashtami 2025: Date, Rituals and Significance
About the Author:
Akanksha Sinha
I'm Akanksha Sinha, an expert in writing sports blogs, news, and various articles for entertainment and more. I bring a unique flair to my work, providing insightful perspectives on the world of sports.
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