Radha Ashtami 2027

About Radha Ashtami

Radha Ashtami falls on the eighth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, two weeks after Krishna's birth on Janmashtami. Radha is remembered as the daughter of Vrishabhanu and Kirti, and in Braj she is honoured not only as Krishna's beloved but as the very form of devotion. Devotees often say that worship of Krishna is complete only with Radha, which is why her name comes first in 'Radhe Krishna'.

Tradition places her birth at Rawal, a village near Gokul, and her childhood at Barsana, where the Shriji temple, also called the Ladli Ji temple, stands on a hill. On this day Barsana fills with pilgrims, and the temple celebrates her birth with abhishek, fresh decoration and offerings, while the lanes ring with songs of celebration and kirtan. Vrindavan, Mathura and Rawal hold their own festivities, and Krishna temples across India and abroad mark the day too.

As with Janmashtami, the main puja is done at midday, when Radha is believed to have been born. Her image, often together with Krishna's, is bathed with panchamrit, a mix of milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, then dressed in new clothes and jewellery and offered flowers and sweets. Many devotees keep a fast until the midday puja, or through the whole day, and break it with prasad. The evening is filled with bhajans, kirtan and stories of Radha's life.

Families who keep Janmashtami often keep Radha Ashtami as its companion, and the rules of the fast vary from home to home. Some keep it with grains avoided, others with fruit and milk, and others simply join the temple celebrations. The date shown above is based on the Ashtami tithi at midday.