Radha Ashtami 2025

What is Radha Ashtami?

Radha Ashtami is an important Hindu festival celebrated on the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. This day is observed as the birth anniversary of Radha, the beloved of Lord Shri Krishna. According to religious scriptures, Lord Shri Krishna was also born on the Ashtami Tithi, and Radha Ji and Rukmini Ji were also born on the Ashtami Tithi, which is why the Ashtami Tithi is considered extremely auspicious in Sanatan Dharma.

Radha Ashtami is celebrated exactly 15 days after Krishna Janmashtami. Just as the festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp across India, in the same way, Radha Ashtami is celebrated with special enthusiasm and devotion, especially in Vrindavan, Mathura, and the Braj region. On this day, Lord Shri Krishna is also worshipped along with Radha Ji, because without Lord Shri Krishna, Radha is incomplete, and without Radha, Krishna is incomplete. Radha Rani is considered the direct embodiment of Lord Krishna's spiritual energy (Shakti) and the manifestation of his love.

Radha Ashtami 2025: Date and Auspicious Timing

Radha Ashtami 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, 31 August 2025. It is important for devotees to understand the dates and auspicious timings to perform the puja and rituals at the right time.

Radha Ashtami 2025: Main Dates and Muhurat

• Festival Date: Sunday, 31 August 2025
• Ashtami Tithi Begins: 30 August 2025 at 10:47 PM
• Ashtami Tithi Ends: 1 September 2025 at 12:59 AM

Significance and Benefits of Radha Ashtami

Benefits of Radha Ashtami

• Destruction of sins: It is said that observing the fast on Radha Ashtami destroys all sins.
• Attainment of Lord Krishna: It is believed that one who pleases Radha Ji with sincere worship attains Lord Shri Krishna himself, because without Radha, Krishna is incomplete.
• End of troubles: Keeping a fast on Radha Ashtami removes all problems in life.
• Eternal marital bliss: Women who observe this fast receive the blessing of unbroken marital bliss, and their families enjoy happiness, prosperity, and peace.
• Children's happiness: This fast is also observed for the blessing of children.
• Spiritual growth: This day helps devotees receive divine blessings, joy, and devotion.
• Astrological benefits: From an astrological perspective, Radha Ashtami is a powerful day to balance Venus in your horoscope, improve love life and marital disputes, reduce the negative effects of Rahu or Ketu periods, and enhance creativity, devotion, and inner harmony.

The story of Radha Ashtami

Radha Rani was born on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada in a village named Rawal (Vrindavan) near the Yamuna in Barsana. Shortly after her birth, Radha Rani's father, Vrishabhanu Ji, moved from there and settled permanently in Barsana. Radha Rani's mother's name was Kirti Devi.

According to mythological stories, Radha Rani's birth was not like that of other children; she did not open her eyes until baby Krishna came to her home. This symbolized their divine connection. In the Brahmavaivarta Purana, there is a story that once in Golok, Shri Krishna was near Viraja Devi. Radha did not like Shri Krishna being near Viraja Devi. At that moment, Radha Rani, along with her companions, started going towards Shri Krishna, but Shri Dam stopped her. Angered by being stopped, Radha Rani cursed Shri Dam to be born in a demon clan. Receiving this curse without fault, Shri Dam's anger increased even more. Looking at Radha Rani, he said harshly—
"O Radha! Since you have cursed me without any fault, now you too will be part of my curse. You will have to leave the heavenly pleasures and take birth in a human form on Earth, where you will experience worldly pain, attachment, and separation. A yogi named Rayaan, born from the essence of Shri Hari, will enter your life, and people on Earth will believe you to be his wife. What will be even more painful is that you will have to bear separation from your beloved Shri Krishna for some time. This curse will be the result of your unjustified anger."

Worship Method of Radha Ashtami

1. Purification and Preparation: Wake up early in the morning, complete daily rituals, and take a bath. Clean the place of worship and purify it by sprinkling Gangajal. Wear clean clothes of yellow or red colour.
2. Setup of Altar: Spread a clean cloth on a chowki (small platform) and place a clay or copper Kalash (sacred pot) in the centre. Then, install the idols or pictures of Radha and Shri Krishna. Wrap a betel nut with a sacred thread (Kalawa) and place it as Lord Ganesha.
3. Ganesh Worship: First, worship Lord Ganesha as he is invoked before starting any auspicious work.
4. Radha-Krishna Abhishek: After worshipping Lord Ganesha, bathe the idols of Radha Ji and Shri Krishna with Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, honey, ghee, curd, and sugar).
5. Decoration and Tilak: Dress them in new clothes and apply Kumkum to Radha Ji and Chandan (sandalwood paste) to Shri Krishna Ji. Adorn the idols with flowers and garlands. This is the only day when devotees can see Radha's feet, which remain covered on other days.
6. Offering and Prasad: Offer Bhog to Lord Shri Krishna and Radha Ji.
7. Story Listening and Aarti: Listen to the divine stories of both. After listening to the Katha with devotion, perform the Aarti of the deities.
8. Distribution of Prasad: Distribute the Prasad after Aarti.
9. Next Day: On the next day, as per devotion, offer food to married women and priests and give them Dakshina. Feed cows and distribute food to the needy.

Radha Ashtami: Mantra Chanting

• Radha Gayatri Mantra: "Om Vrishabhanujaaye Vidmahe, Krishna Priyaaye Dhimahi, Tanno Radha Prachodayat॥"
• Recite the 108 names of Radha.
• Sing devotional bhajans dedicated to Radha Rani.

Radha Ashtami: Rules for Fasting

• Nirjala Vrat: Complete fast without food or water.
• Fruits Fast: Consume only fruits, milk, and dry fruits.
• Pure Meal: Consume only pure food before sunset.

• It is considered highly auspicious to break the fast at a favourable time after completing the Radha Ashtami Puja.
• First, eat the prasad or any pure food offered to Goddess Radha during the puja.
• Gradually return to your normal diet.

• Maintain celibacy during the fast.
• Avoid arguments or speaking ill of anyone.
• Do not eat tamasic food.
• Avoid anger and conflicts.
• Do not break the fasting rules.
• Do not perform the puja in an impure state.
• Do not pluck Tulsi leaves.
• Do not use abusive or harsh words.
• Do not say impure things about Radha-Krishna.
• Do not perform the puja without bathing or wearing clean clothes.

FAQ

1. Why do we celebrate Radha Ashtami?
   Radha Ashtami is celebrated as the appearance day of Radha Rani. This day falls on the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada and is observed exactly 15 days after Shri Krishna Janmashtami. The main purpose of celebrating Radha Ashtami is to draw inspiration for selfless love and pure devotion to God. Radha Rani's life, her unwavering love, dedication, and service towards Krishna, stands as the highest example of devotion for all humanity. On this day, devotees worship Radha Rani, observe fasts, and offer their love at her lotus feet so that they too may experience her divine love and grace. Celebrating this day is believed to fill devotees' lives with devotion, humility, love, and spiritual energy, and it is said that by Radha Rani's grace, the blessings of Shri Krishna are automatically received.
2. What to do on Radha Ashtami?
   • Wake up during Brahma Muhurta and purify yourself by bathing.
   • Cleanse and sanctify the place of worship.
   • Reverently install idols or pictures of Radha-Krishna.
   • Perform Abhishek (ritual bath) of the idols with Panchamrit.
   • Offer new clothes, ornaments, and flowers to Radha Rani.
   • Present offerings like butter-sugar, fruits, sweets, etc.
   • Chant Radha-Krishna mantras.
   • Sing devotional bhajans, kirtans, and hymns with devotion.
   • Perform Aarti properly.
   • Observe a fast or consume only fruits.
   • After the worship, distribute prasad and share joy with everyone.
3. What not to do on Radha Ashtami?
   • Do not consume tamasic food.
   • Completely avoid smoking and any kind of intoxication.
   • Do not eat grains, lentils, or spicy foods during the fast.
   • Avoid arguments, debates, or harsh words with anyone.
   • Observe celibacy in mind, speech, and actions.
   • Stay away from negative thoughts, laziness, and impure behaviour.
   • Do not criticize or speak ill of anyone.
4. How to Celebrate Radha Ashtami at Home?
   • Set up an altar (puja space) in a clean place.
   • Decorate the idols or pictures of Radha and Krishna with flowers and lamps.
   • Bathe the idols with Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar).
   • Dress them in new clothes and apply sandalwood paste, Kumkum, etc., as tilak.
   • Offer Modak, fruits, butter-sugar, and other sattvic dishes as Bhog.
   • Chant the Radha Gayatri Mantra with devotion.
   • Sing bhajans and kirtans and perform Aarti.
   • Distribute prasad after the worship.
   • It is considered auspicious to feed married women and priests the next day.
5. What to eat and what not to eat on Radha Ashtami?
   What to eat:
   • Fruits
   • Dry fruits
   • Kheer or khichdi made from makhana and sabudana
   • Fasting dishes prepared with rock salt (sendha namak)
   • Milk, curd, and panchamrit
   • Makhan-mishri (Lord Krishna's favourite offering)
   • Fasting sweets or halwa made from coconut, bottle gourd, sweet potato, etc.
   What not to eat:
   • Tamasic food
   • Grains
   • Regular salt
   • Spicy and heavy masalas
   • Stay away from any kind of intoxicants.