Janmotsav

Janmotsav, from Sanskrit janma (birth) and utsav (festival), is a term used in several Indian languages to denote the celebration of a birth. It can refer to the birthday of a person, or to the birthday of a deity or revered figure in Hindu, Jain, or Sikh traditions, depending on regional usage. In religious contexts, Janmotsav may coincide with midnight or dawn ceremonies, ritual bathing, puja, and aarti, along with processions, bhajan singing, and charitable giving. In domestic settings, Janmotsav often resembles a family birthday celebration, with greetings, candles, sweets, and community meals.

In Hindu practice, Janmotsav is commonly used for the birth of gods or avatars such as Krishna or Rama when spoken as a festival, though the more widely known term for Krishna’s birthday is Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami; Janmotsav may appear in regional parlance or liturgical calendars. For saints or gurus, Janmotsav marks the anniversary of their birth and is observed with devotional services, discourses, and community service.

Observance varies by region, denomination, and family tradition. Some communities emphasize fasting or night vigils; others focus on charitable acts, feeding the needy, or temple restoration as acts of merit. While Krishna Janmashtami attracts large public celebrations, Janmotsav in general remains a flexible, context-dependent term indicating a birth celebration rather than a fixed festival date.

See also: birthday, Krishna Janmashtami, Jayanthi.