Krishna Janmashtami 2025 Moon Rising: city-wise timings, rituals and mantras for puja after moonrise

Krishna Janmashtami Moon Time 2025: Devotees observing Krishna Janmashtami on August 16, 2025, will complete their fast only after performing the traditional puja of the moon late at night. According to tradition, the fast is considered complete only after sighting the moon and offering prayers to Lord Krishna. However, moonrise occurs relatively late on Janmashtami, and timings vary by city.

The ritual of moon worship is an essential part of Janmashtami celebrations. Once the moon is visible, devotees perform a specific set of prayers and rituals, concluding the day-long fast. The following are the moonrise timings for key cities on August 16:

• Mathura – 11:35 PM
  
  
• Vrindavan – 11:33 PM
  
  
• Delhi – 11:32 PM
  
  
• Lucknow – 11:21 PM
  
  
• Noida – 11:33 PM
  
  
• Ghaziabad – 11:31 PM
  
  
• Meerut – 11:29 PM
  
  
• Muzaffarnagar – 11:28 PM
  
  
• Faridabad – 11:32 PM
  
  
• Sonipat – 11:32 PM
  
  
• Hisar – 11:37 PM
  
  
• Sirsa – 11:39 PM
  
  
• Bijnor – 11:26 PM
  
  

Also Read: Happy Janmashtami 2025 images: cute Radha Krishna images and greetings

Rituals to follow after moonrise

After sighting the moon, devotees are advised to begin by chanting the mantra:
"Somaya Someshvaraya Somapataye Somasambhavaya Somaya Namo Namah."

Following the mantra, the moon is worshipped with an offering prepared using water in a conch (Shankh), fruits, sacred grass (kusha), flowers, and sandalwood paste. During the offering (arghya), the following mantra is recited:

"Ksheerodarnava sambhoota atrinetra samudbhava,
Grihaanarghyam shashaankemam Rohinya sahito mama.
Jyotsnapate namastubhyam namaste jyotishaam pate,
Namaste Rohinikanta arghya me pratigrihyataam."

Once the puja is complete, devotees are encouraged to spend the rest of the night in devotional singing and prayer. The fast is broken the following morning after taking a ritual bath.

Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, is observed with deep spiritual significance by millions of devotees across India. The festival includes fasting, temple visits, devotional music, and night-long vigils, culminating with the symbolic birth of Krishna at midnight.