On the eighth day of the light fortnight in the month of Bhadra (August – September), people commemorate Sri Radhashtami. In order to advance in their devotional service, devotees fast till noon and offer prayers to Her in hopes of receiving Krishna’s favour.
The Deities of Sri Radha Krishnachandra are dressed in new garments on this auspicious day. The garbha-griha is embellished with an amazing assortment of brilliant and colourful flowers.
The utsava Deities of Sri Radha Krishnachandra are given a magnificent abhisheka in the evening. Worshippers engage in kirtanas and exalt Srimati Radharani with beautiful melodies written by Vaishnava Acharyas. Hundreds of worshippers come to the temple to see the festivities. Following baths with milk, curd, ghee, honey, and jaggery water, the Deities are given fruit juices from a variety of fruits, including orange, papaya, pomegranate, muskmelon, apple, and watermelon. As they sing Sri Radhikastava, the devotees conduct a complex arati. The Deities are bathed with holy water from 108 kalashas following the arati. It is followed by a shower of all kinds of flowers. Chappan bhog, or 56 different types of delicacies made by devotees, is given to Sri Radha Krishnachandra following the abhisheka.
The festivities come to an end with a lavish shayana arati. Radhikastaka, a unique song written by Srila Rupa Gosvami, is sung by devotees. The great pallakki utsava takes place after the shayana arati.
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