By Krishna Dua 
Janmashtami 2025 in Delhi sees processions, travel delays
Devotion and festivity will fill the air in Delhi on Saturday, August 16, 2025, as the city prepares to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. While the city’s temples and homes will be abuzz with spiritual fervor, the celebrations will also bring significant traffic disruptions to parts of central Delhi. The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a comprehensive advisory, effective from 1:30 PM, as both a Janmashtami “shobha yatra” and a Tazia procession are scheduled to pass through the city’s heartland, particularly affecting the critical Paharganj-Ajmeri Gate corridor. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys well in advance, consider alternate routes, and rely on public transport to avoid getting caught in the expected gridlock. The unique co-occurrence of these two major processions on the same day adds a layer of complexity for traffic management, highlighting the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural tapestry.
Krishna Janmashtami is one of the most cherished festivals in the Hindu calendar, celebrating the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, who was born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura. The festival is observed with great pomp and devotion, with followers engaging in a day-long fast, which is only broken after the sacred midnight “Nishita Puja” to welcome the Lord’s birth. Homes and temples are beautifully decorated, often with elaborate “jhankis” (tableaux) depicting scenes from Lord Krishna’s life. Devotees sing hymns, perform aarti, and swing the idol of a baby Krishna in a beautifully adorned cradle, a ritual known as “jhulanotsav.” This year, the festival falls on a Saturday, which, while reducing the impact on weekday office commutes, will still significantly affect weekend travel and festive-goers.
Double Processions, Double the Challenge
The primary reason for the traffic advisory is the convergence of two major religious processions on the same day. According to the advisory, the “Samuhik Shobha Yatra” for Janmashtami, a collective procession of devotees, will start from the vicinity of Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj’s Sangatrasan Bazar. The procession is a vibrant affair, featuring decorated floats, devotional music, and thousands of devotees. The Tazia procession, a solemn observance for Muharram, will also take place, starting from Ajmeri Gate and proceeding through Pul Paharganj. This confluence of events in a relatively compact and high-traffic area of central Delhi presents a significant challenge for law enforcement and traffic management.
The Janmashtami procession will snake its way through the narrow lanes of Paharganj before moving onto main roads. Its anticipated route includes Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk, and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession, meanwhile, will follow its traditional path from Ajmeri Gate, crossing Pul Paharganj and parts of Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, before heading towards Chelmsford Road and the New Delhi Railway Station. The timings of both processions, starting from 1:30 PM, are expected to cause disruptions that could last well into the evening, until the processions conclude. The Delhi Traffic Police has already begun deploying additional personnel on these routes to manage the flow of vehicles and ensure the safety of both devotees and other road users.
Delhi Traffic Advisory: Key Routes and Diversions
In light of the processions, the Delhi Traffic Police has released a detailed advisory outlining the restrictions and diversions. Commuters are strongly advised to avoid the following key stretches during the procession timings:
- Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate: The entire stretch between these two locations will see heavy restrictions and diversions. Traffic coming from Connaught Place towards Paharganj will be rerouted.
- Desh Bandhu Gupta Road (DBG Road): A major arterial road, DBG Road will be particularly affected, as both processions are set to use parts of it.
- Chelmsford Road: This road, which is a crucial link to the New Delhi Railway Station, will be restricted, impacting commuters trying to catch trains.
- Arakashan Road: Access to this road will be controlled to facilitate the smooth movement of the Janmashtami procession.
- Connaught Place Outer Circle: Traffic around Connaught Place, especially on the side closest to Paharganj and the New Delhi Railway Station, will be under stress, with alternate routes recommended.
Commuters traveling from North to South Delhi and vice-versa, particularly those using the central corridors, are advised to take alternate routes. For those heading to the New Delhi Railway Station, the police have recommended approaching via the Bhavbhuti Marg from Minto Road side or utilizing the elevated road from Connaught Place to avoid the Chelmsford Road congestion. The Delhi Metro is expected to be a lifesaver for many, with advisories suggesting that commuters heading to central Delhi or the railway station should consider using the metro as their primary mode of transport.
“We have made all necessary arrangements to ensure both processions pass off peacefully and with minimum disruption to other road users,” said a senior official from the Delhi Traffic Police. “We urge the public to cooperate with the police on duty and follow the diversions. Please plan your travel ahead of time and use our social media handles for real-time updates. The safety of everyone is our top priority.”
Celebrating the Divine in the Capital
Beyond the processions, Janmashtami celebrations will be in full swing across Delhi’s famous temples. The ISKCON Temple in East of Kailash, known for its magnificent and elaborate festivities, is expected to see lakhs of devotees. The temple complex will be decorated to resemble Vrindavan, with intricate floral arrangements, a special midnight “abhishek” (bathing of the deity), and a grand feast (“maha-prasad”) for all visitors. The Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir), a historical landmark, will also be a major center of celebration, attracting a large number of worshipers with its special pujas and devotional singing.
The Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir in Dwarka and the Dwarkadhish Temple in Chandni Chowk are other key venues where devotees will gather to celebrate. The atmosphere will be one of profound devotion, with bhajans and kirtans resonating through the halls and courtyards of these temples. Many communities in Delhi will also organize local festivities, with children dressed up as Lord Krishna and Radha, participating in dance and drama performances that bring the mythological tales to life.
The co-occurrence of the Janmashtami and Tazia processions, while posing a logistical challenge, also serves as a beautiful reminder of Delhi’s composite culture, where people of different faiths coexist and celebrate their traditions. The police’s careful management of both events ensures that a spirit of mutual respect and harmony prevails.
As Delhi embraces the festive spirit of Janmashtami, with its joyous celebrations and moments of deep spiritual significance, a touch of practicality is needed to navigate the city’s roads. With a little planning and a lot of patience, residents can partake in the festivities and honor the city’s traditions, ensuring that the day is memorable for all the right reasons.