Radha Ashtami 2023 in Vrindavan: Date, Puja Time, Rituals, Celebration and Significance

Radha Ashtami 2023 in Vrindavan : The Radha Ashtami 2023 vrat festival is a significant and special celebration for Hindus. It’s all about honoring Goddess Radha Rani. This day marks her birth anniversary, as she was born on the eighth day of the bright half of the Bhadrapada month. Radha Jayanti is being celebrated today, on September 23, 2023.

Radha Ashtami Significance

Radha Ashtami holds great significance in Hindu culture as it marks the birth of Radha Rani. Devotees of Radha Rani celebrate this day with immense enthusiasm. The festival falls precisely 15 days after Janmashtami, which is Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary.

According to legends, Radha Ji is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and the beloved of Lord Krishna. She descended to Earth 5000 years ago in the village of Barsana in Mathura. It’s said that she was the adopted daughter of Vrishbhanu and Kirti. Radha Ashtami is also known as Radha Jayanti and is celebrated with grandeur, particularly in North India.

Radha Ashtami 2023 Date and Time

• Ashtami Tithi Begins – September 22, 2023 – 01:35 PM
• Ashtami Tithi Ends – September 23, 2023 – 12:17 PM
• Madhyahna Time – September 23, 2023 – 10:26 AM to 12:52 PM

How To Celebrate Radha Ashtami 2023?

The Radha Ashtami festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, where people organize kirtans and bhajans at home. In the northern part of India, Radha Rani’s birth anniversary is celebrated with deep devotion and grandeur. Radha Krishna temples are adorned with flowers and lights, and special pujas are held. Iskcon temples also host grand celebrations on the eve of Radha Ashtami. The birthplace of Radha Rani is beautifully decorated with balloons, lights, colorful tents, and various types of flowers. She symbolizes boundless love and devotion.

The love and connection between Radha and Krishna represent purity and holiness. They are considered as one soul, not separate entities. Devotees who worship Radha Ji on this auspicious day receive blessings for worldly happiness and prosperity from both Radha Ji and Lord Krishna.

On Radha Ashtami, devotees offer prayers to Goddess Radha, observe fasts, and engage in bhajans and kirtans. Many people celebrate her birth anniversary by organizing large events.

The Lotus Feet of Radha Rani hold immense importance, with various marks on them that carry different meanings:

• Half-Moon (Ardha-Chandra): Symbolizes that Radha’s feet fulfill the desires of devotees, much like the moon’s cooling rays provide nectar. It also represents unity despite being seen by many.
• Disk (Chakra): Represents the removal of the six enemies of devotees: lust, anger, greed, illusion, envy, and bewilderment.
• Pitcher (Kalash): Signifies that Radha’s feet hold a golden pitcher filled with nectar for surrendered souls, ensuring no inauspiciousness can affect them.
• Fish (Matsya): Indicates that just as a fish cannot live without water, surrendered devotees cannot live without associating with Radha’s feet. It also signifies the fulfillment of cherished desires.
• Conch (Shankha): Shows that those seeking refuge in Radha’s feet are rescued from distress, just as a conch holds water during arati ceremonies.
• Flag (Dhvaja): Announces security and protection for devotees meditating on Radha’s feet, guarding them from fear.

Radha Ashtami 2023 Puja Rituals

1. Devotees wake up early in the morning at the sacred Brahm Muhurat and take a holy bath before starting their worship rituals.
2. They clean their Puja Room and prepare a wooden plank.
3. An idol of Radha Krishna is taken, and they give it a bath with panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar).
4. The devotees adorn the idols with flowers, clothing, and jewelry.
5. The idols are placed on the wooden plank, and a diya (lamp) with desi ghee (clarified butter) is lit. They also offer bhog (sacred food offering) consisting of fruits and sweets.
6. Devotees offer special adornments to Goddess Radha Rani and seek her blessings.
7. They recite mantras, hymns, and chant Aarti. Chanting the Radha Gayatri Mantra is considered highly auspicious.
8. Devotees may visit a temple and offer prayers to Goddess Radha.
9. Those observing a fast can break it in the evening after offering bhog prasad to the Goddess.
10. The prasad (sacred food) is distributed among family members, relatives, and friends as a blessed offering.

Radha Ashtami 2023 Mantra

1. Om Hreem Radhikaye Namah..!!
2. Om Hreem Shreem Radhikaye Namah..!!

FAQ of Radha Ashtami 2023