Radha Ashtami 2027राधा अष्टमी

When is Radha Ashtami?

Observed on Shukla Ashtami, Bhadrapada month. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Radha Ashtami means

Radha Ashtami celebrates the appearance of Shri Radha on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami, fifteen days after Krishna Janmashtami. In the Vaishnava traditions of Braj — the Gaudiya, Nimbarka and Vallabha sampradayas — Radha is the supreme goddess of love, Krishna's own hladini shakti (power of bliss), without whom his worship is incomplete. In Braj people greet each other with "Radhe Radhe".

Devotees fast until midday, Radha's birth hour, and then bathe her image with panchamrit and dress her in new clothes and flowers. At Barsana, her village, the Shriji temple on the hill is thronged by lakhs of pilgrims, and her feet are shown to devotees.

The day is a celebration of selfless love: Radha's love for Krishna, sung by Jayadeva, Vidyapati, Surdas and countless poets, is seen as the highest form of bhakti — love that seeks nothing for itself.

The story of Radha Ashtami

Tradition tells that Radha was born to the cowherd chief Vrishabhanu and his wife Kirti at Rawal, near Barsana. In one account Vrishabhanu found her as an infant lying on a lotus in the Yamuna. She did not open her eyes until Yashoda brought the baby Krishna to visit; the first thing she saw was Krishna.

Radha appears in the Brahmavaivarta and Padma Puranas and in Jayadeva's Gita Govinda; the Bhagavata Purana does not name her, but Vaishnava teachers see her in the "one gopi" whom Krishna took aside during the Raas. In Gaudiya theology she is the source of all Krishna's consorts and the perfect devotee.

Radha Ashtami puja vidhi, step by step

How Radha Ashtami is kept at home and in temples.

What you need

• An image of Radha, or Radha-Krishna
• Panchamrit and water for abhishek
• New clothes, flowers and ornaments for shringar
• Tulsi for Krishna, lotus or jasmine for Radha
• Naivedya: makhan-mishri, kheer, malpua, fruit

When to do the puja

In 2027 Radha Ashtami falls on Tuesday, 7 September. The abhishek is done at midday; check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Fast. Fast until midday, or keep a phalahar fast for the day.
2. Prepare. Decorate the shrine with flowers and set up Radha's image.
3. Noon abhishek. At midday bathe the image with panchamrit and water.
4. Shringar. Dress Radha in new clothes and flowers and offer bhog.
5. Kirtan. Sing Radha's names and bhajans and do the aarti; share prasad.

Offerings & food: Panchamrit, makhan-mishri, kheer, malpua, flowers — especially lotus and jasmine

Mantras for Radha Ashtami

Radha Ashtami across India

Barsana (Shriji / Radha Rani temple on Bhanugarh hill), Rawal, Vrindavan and all Radha-Krishna temples; ISKCON centres worldwide

Barsana

Lakhs climb to the Shriji (Radha Rani) temple on Bhanugarh hill; the celebrations last several days with music and dance.

Vrindavan and Rawal

Radha-Krishna temples hold abhisheks at noon; Rawal, held to be her birthplace, has its own celebration.

ISKCON and Gaudiya temples

A fast until noon, abhishek, and kirtan through the day.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Radha Ashtami

Banke Bihari TempleVrindavan, Uttar PradeshISKCON VrindavanVrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently asked questions