Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai | 26th August 2026 Written Update: Damanis Get Janmashtami Responsibility as Poddars Face a New Twist
The latest episode of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai brings a fresh conflict between the Damanis and Poddars as the responsibility for this year’s Janmashtami celebration changes hands. While the Damanis prepare to make the festival a grand event, the Poddars struggle to accept losing a tradition that has been close to their hearts for years.
The episode begins with Bhairvi blindfolding herself and refusing to eat. Nandani tries to convince her to have some food, but Bhairvi insists that she will not eat until she receives an answer from God.
Just then, Raghav and Samar reveal that the trust has given the Damanis the responsibility of organizing this year’s Janmashtami celebration.
Bhairvi is surprised by how easily the decision was made and wonders whether the Damanis did something wrong to secure the opportunity. Raghav assures her that they would never misuse God’s name. Samar explains that Raghav simply convinced the trust members through his approach.
Bhairvi then becomes determined to make the celebration so impressive that it will overshadow the Poddars.
Raghav reminds everyone, however, that the Damanis must follow all the rules established by the trust for the religious celebration.
Meanwhile, Armaan questions the trust members about why they decided to give the responsibility to the Damanis. They explain that people had started questioning why the Poddars were repeatedly given the opportunity to organize the festival. According to them, it was fair to allow another family to take responsibility this time.
The decision leaves the Poddars unhappy.
Raghav asks Nandani to begin preparations according to the trust’s guidelines. Nandani wonders whether the Poddars have been informed, but Raghav tells her to focus on the arrangements because people from across the city are expected to attend.
When Armaan and Abhira learn about the decision, they become furious. Vidya accuses the Damanis of cheating, while Sanjay believes the move could be an act of revenge.
Manoj points out that Armaan and Abhira previously fought a case against the Damanis, giving them a possible reason to retaliate.
Armaan agrees that this could be part of their plan.
Abhira then raises another possibility. She wonders whether the Damanis intend to use the festival to promote or launch their new product. Armaan tells her not to assume that the Damanis have innocent intentions.
Meanwhile, Kaveri is devastated after learning that she will not be organizing Janmashtami this year. She questions God about why the opportunity she had treasured for so long has been taken away.
Mukti suggests that Myra should spend some time with Kaveri and help cheer her up.
However, Myra receives a call from Kabir.
Mukti notices the call and suspects that Myra is more interested in speaking with Kabir than comforting Kaveri. Myra soon gets into an argument with Kabir, blaming him and his family for hurting Kaveri.
She explains how important Janmashtami and its traditions are to Kaveri. Kabir defends his family and insists that they have not done anything wrong.
Neither of them is ready to back down, and the argument continues.
Later, Abhira and Armaan meet Nandani and Raghav. Abhira openly questions them about taking away the Poddars’ opportunity.
Raghav admits that the Damanis also plan to launch their new product around the celebration.
Abhira questions whether they are turning a religious festival into a business opportunity.
Nandani and Raghav defend their plans and refuse to accept that they are doing anything inappropriate.
Abhira reminds them that Janmashtami has a deep religious and emotional significance for Kaveri and the Poddar family.
Rather than continuing the argument, Nandani makes an unexpected move.
She invites the Poddars to attend the Janmashtami celebration at the Damanis’ venue.
The invitation makes the situation even more complicated.
Kaveri, meanwhile, decides that she will hold her own Janmashtami celebration at the Poddar house. She is relieved that their Bal Krishna idol remains with them and believes she can still celebrate the festival with her family.
Abhira worries that Kaveri could become upset if most people decide to attend the Damanis’ event instead.
Kaveri refuses to let that possibility discourage her. She explains that she is celebrating for Armaan and her family, and that is enough for her.
Elsewhere, Myra continues thinking about her argument with Kabir.
Meanwhile, Armaan and Mukti play badminton together. Mukti soon becomes tired, prompting Armaan to tell her that she needs to work on her stamina if she is serious about pursuing sports.
He also tells Abhira not to keep giving Mukti ice cream and goes as far as removing food-delivery apps from Mukti’s phone.
Armaan then asks Myra to give him her phone.
Myra hands it over without hesitation.
Abhira and Armaan immediately find her behaviour suspicious. They wonder why Myra is suddenly so willing to give up her phone when she would normally be much more protective of it.
Later, Madhav notices that Abhira is still awake and asks what is troubling her.
Abhira explains that Manisha asked her to stay because she has something important to reveal.
Manisha then shares information she heard at the party.
The Damanis may have received permission to organize Janmashtami, but there is reportedly a major condition attached to the decision: they can only use the Poddars’ idol for the celebration.
Abhira is stunned by the revelation.
The episode ends with this unexpected condition threatening to change the entire balance between the two families.
Precap
The Janmashtami storyline has now developed beyond a simple competition over who gets to organize the festival. The Damanis have secured the responsibility and venue, but the Poddars still possess the idol and a deep emotional connection to the tradition.
Kaveri’s reaction is one of the episode’s strongest emotional moments. For her, Janmashtami represents much more than an annual celebration. It is connected to faith, memories and family traditions. Her decision to celebrate at home despite losing the official responsibility shows that she is not prepared to let the Damanis define what the festival means to her.
The Myra-Kabir storyline also continues quietly in the background. Myra’s interest in Lord Krishna appears to be connected to Kabir, while her unusually quick decision to hand her phone to Armaan immediately raises suspicion.
The biggest development, however, is Manisha’s revelation about the idol. The Damanis may have won the right to organize the celebration, but they apparently cannot do everything their way.
With both families preparing for Janmashtami, the upcoming celebration could become the stage for another major confrontation. The real question now is whether the Damanis can pull off their grand event while following the condition attached to the trust’s decision.