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FESTIVALS · UTTAR PRADESH · AUGUST

Uttar Pradesh festivals in August.

2 festivals this month — dates, locations, and travel tips.

Janmashtami

Vrindavan

Krishna's birthday — temples decorated, midnight celebrations, dahi handi. Vrindavan and Mathura explode.

August / September

Krishna Janmashtami (Birth of Krishna)

Mathura

Janmashtami celebrates Lord Krishna's birth in Mathura at midnight. Over 800,000 devotees gather annually for prayers, fasting, and Dahi Handi competitions where youth form human pyramids to break pots of curd and butter. Ras Leela performances, temple decorations, midnight aarti (worship ceremonies), and distribution of sweets mark the festival. Vrindavan celebrations extend for 16 days.

August-September (lunar calendar; 2026: September 4-5)

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