20+ Krishna Janmashtami Activities for kids

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Krishna Jeyanthi is a day of joy and celebration, especially for children. Kids dress up as Krishna or Radha for this special occasion and eagerly look forward to listening to stories about Krishna’s childhood.

An exciting way to make the day even more memorable is by engaging in fun Krishna Janmashtami activities with your kids.

These activities can range from making paper crafts to creating homemade sweets like Laddu or Muruku, which are traditional offerings made at this festival.

What is Krishna Janmashtami?

Krishna Janmashtami is perhaps the most joyous and fun-filled festival in India. It celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu himself.

When is Janmashtami this year?

Krishna Janmashtami typically falls on the Eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which usually corresponds to August or September in the Gregorian calendar.

The exact date of Janmashtami varies each year because it is based on the Hindu lunar calendar.

This year 2023, Janmashtami falls on September 6.

How do people celebrate Krishna Janmashtami?

Here are some key ways in which people celebrate Janmashtami, explained in short points suitable for kids:

Decorations: Homes and temples are decorated with colourful flowers and rangoli patterns.
Fast: Some people fast on this day, refraining from eating until midnight.
Singing and Dancing: People sing bhajans (devotional songs) and dance to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birth.
Dress Up: Many children dress up as Lord Krishna or Radha for the occasion.
Swinging Cradles: In temples, a small cradle with a statue of baby Krishna is swung gently.
Storytelling: Elders tell stories about Lord Krishna’s life, especially his childhood antics.
Breaking the Fast: At midnight, when it’s believed Lord Krishna was born, the fast is broken with special sweets and fruits.
Community Gatherings: People come together at temples for special prayers and celebrations.
Dahi Handi: In some places, young people form human pyramids to break a pot of yoghurt, mimicking Krishna’s playful nature.
Feasting: Families and friends enjoy a delicious meal together.

These are some of the fun and colourful ways in which Janmashtami is celebrated, and it’s a special day for kids to learn about and participate in these joyful traditions.

Krishna Janmashtami Activities for Kids

I’ve compiled a list of Krishna-themed activities that are perfect for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even primary school kids! This collection encompasses simple crafts, printables, book recommendations, videos, and more.

Enjoy exploring these activities with your children.

Keep in mind that this list will continue to grow each year, so consider pinning one of the images to your board for future reference.

For more detail on Each Craft and printable, read on!

Krishna Crown Printable

Get creative with your crafting for your next Krishna celebration! Our crown printable makes it easy to craft a beautiful headpiece in no time at all. All you need is paper, glue and our free printable Krishna crown Template.

Once the crown’s been finished, personalise it further with sequins, glitter, fabric or coloured paper — there’s no limit to what you can use! Invite the kids to help create their own version of the crown, which makes for an enjoyable family activity that yields festive results.

Paper Weaving pot Craft

Lord Krishna is known for his mischievous butter-stealing antics from pots during his childhood. This association carries both narrative and symbolic importance.

For a creative Janmashtami activity, consider crafting this Paper Woven Pot, a perfect project for kids. You can enhance it by adding a touch of cotton to represent the butter. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? Access the free Pot Template and make this paper-weaving pot craft today.

Handprint Peacock Craft

Krishna is consistently depicted wearing a peacock feather on his crown, so Crafting a handprint peacock is perfect for this occasion of Janmashtami!

It is a simple and enjoyable project. You can find instructions and download our free Peacock Template for guidance.

Additionally, our blog offers a variety of peacock-related ideas, such as crafting a paper plate peacock, providing peacock worksheets for kids, and sharing interesting peacock facts for children to explore.

Krishna Colouring page

Colouring is an adored activity for children of all ages and interests. Janmashtami provides a wonderful opportunity to indulge in colouring and craft your own Krishna.

Additionally, adding a sweet touch by colouring “Happy Janmashtami” makes it an ideal gift for loved ones during this festive occasion.

Download this printable at the end of the post!

Krishna Janmashtami Videos

Janmashtami celebrates Krishna’s birthday, but have you ever wondered about the fascinating story behind his birth? It was no ordinary day, like ours.

Krishna’s birth tale is filled with intrigue, with his parents imprisoned and the evil Kansa awaiting the baby’s demise. How did Krishna survive? Discover this captivating story by watching the video. Isn’t it intriguing?

You can also consider purchasing the “My First Mythology Tale ” set, which comes with 10 books. The tale of Krishna is a part of it.

We found this set to be quite convenient to teach the story of all major Hindu deities. It is a compact, and budget-friendly Pick for when our child was a toddler.

Read Krishna’s Stories

Children adore the thrilling tales of Little Krishna, especially his encounters with demons dispatched by the wicked King Kansa.

We’ve gathered a selection of the most beloved Krishna stories, complete with videos, for your kids’ delight. Explore the finest Krishna stories for children right here!

Krishna Card

Krishna Shilhotte art

When your child enjoys painting, trying out Krishna silhouette art is a must-do activity. You can easily create your own stunning Krishna poster in no time. Just download our free Krishna template and get started!

Dress Up as Little Krishna and Radha

Dressing up is one of kids’ favorite activities and children will love to dress up as Krishna or Radha.

For Krishna, you’ll need a white dhoti, a peacock feather crown, Flute and jewellery. For Radha, any ethnic Indian dress like a lehenga with a shawl draped on the head, along with jewellery and bindis, works perfectly.

We cherish dressing our daughter as Krishna in some years and Radha in others. It’s a wonderful tradition!

Many stores in India offer fantastic costume sets with all the accessories needed, making it a delightful experience for both kids and parents. I have some fantastic picks from Amazon for you!

Krishna Swing

It’s a lovely tradition to create a charming swing for Krishna and gently sway it during Janmashtami. In temples, these swings are grand, matching the size of the idol.

At home, people often purchase smaller idols with swings, but you can also craft your own DIY Krishna swing, as we did. It’s incredibly simple; all you need is some straw and a cardboard base, and you can assemble it effortlessly.

Involve kids to make a Rangoli

No Hindu festival is whole without lively kolams and decor! Engaging kids in crafting this art is pure joy. Colouring the Kolam (Rangoli) with my grandmother during festivals remains a cherished childhood memory!

Decorate a Dahi pot

If you have a terracotta pot at home, consider decorating it with gold lace and embellishments. This creative activity is not only enjoyable during Janmashtami but also makes for a great decoration and prop for photoshoots with your little Krishna!

Watch the Dahi Handi Event

“Dahi Handi” is a traditional event celebrated in India as part of the Krishna Janmashtami festivalThe term “Dahi Handi” can be translated to “curd pot” in English.

During the Dahi Handi event, a human pyramid is formed by a group of young participants (usually men and boys) called “Govindas.” At the top of this pyramid is a clay pot or a container filled with yoghurt. The pot is suspended at a considerable height, often from a rope strung across the street or between two buildings.

The goal of the participants is to reach the pot, break it open, and spill its contents, symbolizing the playful nature of the young Lord Krishna, who was known for his love of butter and curd. This event is not only a religious observance but also a fun and competitive tradition, as teams of Govindas compete to see who can form the tallest human pyramid and break the Dahi Handi.

Dahi Handi celebrations are especially popular in the state of Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai, where large-scale competitions and events are organized, drawing huge crowds and media attention.

It’s a lively and joyous occasion that brings communities together to celebrate Krishna’s birth in a spirited and sometimes challenging way.

Learn Krishna slogan

This easy-to-remember slogan is a way to call upon Lord Krishna and Lord Rama with love and devotion. Perfect for kids!

You can explain to kids that chanting this slogan is a way to show love and respect to Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, who are both considered avatars (incarnations) of the Supreme God in Hinduism.

It’s like inviting them to be with us and guide us in our daily lives.

Krishna Footprints

Creating footprints of Krishna leading from the entrance of the house to the prayer room, where idols are kept, is a cherished Hindu tradition.

Typically, this involves dipping little kids’ feet in rice water and having them walk from the entrance to the prayer room, leaving a trail of footprints.

It’s an engaging and enjoyable activity for children, immersing them in the festive spirit. However, if there are no young children at home, people resort to making these footprints with their own hands.

For a visual demonstration, you can watch the video below.

Read the Other avatars of Vishnu

Krishna is widely recognized as an incarnation of Vishnu, alongside popular avatars like Rama and Bhuta. However, children often have limited knowledge about the other incarnations.

To discover more about the ten avatars, including lesser-known ones, I recommend reading the book “Dhasavatharam.” It offers an engaging and informative experience for kids.

I hope you enjoyed exploring the extensive list of Krishna Janmashtami activities for kids and learning more about the festival.

We’ve put together numerous activities for kids for various festivals, and you might also find these enjoyable:

We plan to keep expanding this list with more fun activities and printables each year, so be sure to save it for later.