Radha Ashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. It is an auspicious day to celebrate the birth of one of the most revered deities, Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Lord Krishna. Radha Ashtami Kab Hai is a commonly asked question by devotees and it falls 15 days after Janmashtami.
So to answer, we are here and we will let you know about when is the Radha Ashtami and what’s is the right time to celebrate it in. Have a look below:
Date: 23 September, 2023
Day: Saturday
Madhyahna Time: 11:02 AM to 01:27 PM
Ashtami Tithi Begins: 01:35 PM on Sep 22, 2023
Ashtami Tithi Ends: 12:17 PM on Sep 23, 2023
History of Radha Ashtami
This is an important festival for the Bhakti movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 16th century.
According to Hindu mythology, Radha was born on the 8 day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadrapada. Radha was the foster daughter of Vrishbhanu and his wife Kirti. She was known for her undying love for Lord Krishna and their relationship is considered as the epitome of divine love.
On Radha Ashtami, devotees celebrate Radha’s birth by conducting special prayers, pujas (ritual worship), and bhajans (devotional songs). Temples dedicated to Radha and Krishna, especially in the Braj region of India or Iskcon temple ( in east of Kailash delhi, Badshahpur gurgaon, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh) witness a significant influx of devotees during this time.
Many devotees fast on this day and engage in various devotional activities to seek Radha and Krishna’s blessings.
Significance of Radha Ashtami
Radha Ashtami is celebrated with great devotion and reverence because it signifies the birth of Radharani, who is believed to be the embodiment of pure love and devotion.
Devotees fast, chant mantras, perform puja, and offer prasad to seek blessings from Radha Rani and Lord Krishna. The celebration is a reminder of the pure, selfless love that exists between Radha and Krishna.
Customs and Rituals
On this day, devotees wake up early in the morning to take a holy bath and wear new clothes.
They offer flowers, fruits, and other delicacies to the deities and participate in the evening aarti. Special bhajans and kirtans are organized in temples and homes, and devotees sing and dance to celebrate Radha Ashtami.
Some communities also organize a grand procession of Radha and Krishna idols to spread their message of love and devotion.
Regional Celebrations
The festival of Radha Ashtami is celebrated with different variations across various regions of India.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna and Radha are believed to have spent most of their time, the festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. People decorate their homes with flowers and lights and participate in a grand procession of the deities.
In Gujarat, the festival of Radha Ashtami is celebrated as Nand Mahotsav, which marks the day when Nanda Maharaj, the foster father of Lord Krishna, welcomed baby Krishna and Radha to his home.
I hope you all got about Radha Ashtami Kab Hai? It is on 23 September, 2023 and you can celebrate it in the nearest Radha Krishna Temple. If you live in big cities like Delhi, Pune, Gurugram, Varindavan, Jaipur, Ujjain, Nasik, Noida, Yamunanagar then you can visit Iskcon temple and see how this year’s Radha Ashtami is celebrated!
