Janmashtami puja at home: step by step
From bathing Laddu Gopal to the midnight aarti, an easy order for keeping Janmashtami at home.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
This is one easy order. If your family follows a different custom, follow that.
- Bathe in the morning and clean the house; fast through the day or eat only fruit if you like.
- In the evening decorate a small swing with flowers and leaves.
- Before midnight bathe the deity with milk, water or panchamrit, called abhishek. Then dry him with a soft cloth and dress him in new clothes and ornaments.
- At midnight do the birth aarti, blow the conch, seat the deity on the swing and rock it.
- Offer bhog: makhan-mishri, dhaniya panjiri, fruit, milk sweets, each with a tulsi leaf.
- Share the bhog as prasad with everyone, then break your fast.
If there are children, give them the job of rocking the swing. It is the happiest part.
