Radha Ashtami 2024: Date, Time, Puja Vidhi & Significance

Radha Ashtami 2024 is the most important festival for the devotees of Radha Rani. In this article, we will discuss everything related to the festival. The Radha Ashtami is celebrated all over India as it is one of the biggest festivals for the Radha Krishan devotees. The devotees celebrate this festival with great pleasure at a huge level.

The Radha Rani Ji is the favourite Goddess of almost all the Brajwasi (the people of the Braj area, mainly Mathura, Vrindavan, and Varsana ); every Brajwasi and other devotees of Radha Rani eagerly waits for this festival every year.

People believe that Radha Rani is a reincarnation of Goddess Laxmi (Wife of Lord Vishnu). The Radha Rani holds an important place in the hearts of many devotees. The devotee’s love for Radha Rani is Immeasurable.

In this article, we are going to discuss the date, timing, Puja Vidhi, and significance of Radha Ashtami.

Date & Timing of the Radha Ashtami 2024

According to the Hindu traditional calendar, the Panchang, Radha Ashtami 2024 will start at 11:10 pm on the 10 September 2024 and end at 11:46 pm on the 11 September 2024. Devotees can do the fasting during this period for a long and joyful life.

The Pooja and Arti timing can be different for different regions and areas. People generally perform the Radha Ashtami 2024 pooja and Aarti at noon.

What is Radha Ashtami?

The Radha Ashtami is celebrated as the birth anniversary the day when The Goddess Radha Rani was born on earth. Radha Rani was born on the eighth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada, which usually falls in August and September.

The Radha Ashatmi falls exactly after 15 days of Krishna Janmashtami. It is said and written in Skanda Purana that King Vrishbhanu and his wife Keerti, a couple who do not have any child after many years of marriage.

Once Vrishbhanu found Radh Rani lying on a leaf of a lotus flower near the pond of Varsana and he took her to his home and decided to adopt baby Radha Rani that day was considered Radha Rani’s birthday.

It is said that baby Radha Rani did not open her eyes till Baby Shree Krishna came in front of her. The first thing Radha Rani saw in the world was the face of Lord Shree Krishna.

When is Radha Ashtami 2024?

The Radha Ashtami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Radha Ranin, which generally falls on the eighth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. It usually falls in August and September.

According to today’s world calendar, Radha Ashtami will be on Wednesday 11 September 2024, when converted from the traditional Hindu calendar (The Panchang).

The Radha Ashtami is celebrated exactly after the 15 days of the Krishna Janmashtami celebration.

Pooja and Aarti Vidhi on Radha Ashtami

On the sacred day of Radha Ashatmi, the devotees keep a fast for the whole day. They clean and decorate the pooja place. After bathing, you can clean and bathe the idol of Radha Rani with Panchamrit, which is made of five elements: Yogurt, milk, ghee, honey, and sugar.

After cleaning the idol, change the old clothes and replace them with new ones.
The new clothes of Radha Rani should be shiny and colourful.

You can offer dhoop, lotus flowers, Roli, kumkum, Shringaar, etc for worship and fruits, a variety of dishes, and sweets for Bhog to idols.

According to the old scripture Puran, the Radha Rani should be worshipped along with Shree Krishna. It is also suggested to worship Radha Rani at noon (Madhyahna Kala) as the local devotee says and do themselves.

After the Pooja and Arti, the devotees do nach-kirtan, and then prasad is distributed among all the devotees.

Significance of Radha Ashtami

The Radha Ashtami is one of the biggest festivals for the devotees of Radha Krishna. According to old Hindu scriptures, Radha Rani and Krishna are two bodies and one soul.

It is said that if you are worshiping lord Krishna then you should also worship Radha Rani otherwise your wish will not be fulfilled. If you Worship Radha Krishna with the same love and devotion, all desires and wishes will be fulfilled by Lord Krishna.

As Radha Rani’s name comes first before Lord Krishna it is good to worship Radha Rani before Lord Krishna, this is what lord Krishna wants. Lord Krishna is incomplete without Radha Rani that’s why their ”Radhey-Krishna” name is chanted together.

Devotees who worship Radha Rani with pure hearts will always get the blessing of lord Krishna and their life will be filled with joy and happiness.

Fasting on Radha Ashtami

Fasting during the auspicious day of Radha Ashtami is considered best to get the blessing of Radhey-Krishna. Many of the devotees perform fasting on this day for joy and prosperity in their lives.

On this day, devotees wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and offer water to the sun. then they wear new or clean clothes and perform Radha Rani Pooja and Arti then do fasting the whole day.

What Can We Eat During the Fasting

There are many food items devotees can eat during their fast. The main rule of fasting for Radha Asthtami is that one who is fasting should not eat Tamsik food like alcohol, onion, garlic, and non-veg and also avoid anger and arguments.

The devotees can eat fruits, vegetables, curd, dates, nuts, etc. Remember devotees should be empty while performing morning prayers of Radha Ashtami after Pooja you can eat the mentioned items.

It is not necessary to do fasting as all people near you are doing, only one who has devotion and love for Radha-Krishna should do fasting on Radha Ashtami.

Radha Ashtami Home Celebration

Devotees out of India or those who have no temple near their houses can perform the Radha Ashtami at home, which is quite easy and simple.

For this auspicious occasion, the devotees should take a bath early in the morning and clean the area of the pooja. Devotees can wear new clothes or just clean clothes for the Pooja and Aarti.

After cleaning the pooja area you have to clean the idol of Radha- Krishna with Panchamrit made of five elements: milk, yogurt, ghee, jaggery, and honey. After this, clean the idol with pure water and a clean white cloth.

Then you can do morning Pooja and Arti of the Idols of Radha-krishna. Chant Radha Gayatri Mantra during the prayer. After Pooja distribute the Prashadam to all your family members and neighbors.

Perform the Radha Ashtami Pooja at noon and offer Bhog with flowers and Shringaar to idols of Radha-Krishna. Do swing to the Jhoola of Idols one by one.

The Radha Ashtami 2024 celebration in Mathura

The Mathura-Vrindavan is the area of Braj where the Radha Rani and Lord Krishan were born and spent most of their life. The people of the Braj area are the true devotees of Radha-krishna. The Braj( Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, etc ) area has many sacred temples of Radha-Krishan.

The people of Braj celebrate the Radha Ashatmi in the ultimate form. They celebrate the birthday of Radha Rani with great joy and passion.

On Radha Ashtami, people decorate the entire city with flowers and lighting. They celebrate Radha Ashtami on a grand scale. People dance and kirtan the whole day, and share sweets on this auspicious day. The celebration of Radha Ashtami goes for a whole with below things:

Rasleela:

The Raslila is a form of dance with storytelling that is used to perform by Radha-Krishna.

In Raslila the local people perform an act, telling the story of Radha-Krishna with dance and singing.

Many people gather to see the Raslila of the Radha-Krishna, it is generally performed during the night after the pooja of Radha-Krishna.

Dance and Kirtan:

People dance and kirtan to celebrate the Radha Ashtami with great excitement. People of every age, whether old or young, dance on the dhol and Bhakti songs.

Mantras and Aarti for Radha Ashtami 2024

Devotees chant Mantras during the Pooja and Arti of Radha Rani and Krishna.
If you do not know any Mantras for this day, we have mentioned the Radha Ashtami Mantra and Aarti below:

Radha Ashtami Mantra:

वृषभानुज्यै विधमहे !! !! कृष्णप्रियायै धीमहि !! !! तन्नो राधा प्रचोदयात !!

!! Om Vrashbhanujaye Vidmahe !! !! Krishnapriyaye Dhimahi !! !! Tanno Radha Prachodayat !!

Radha Ashtami Aarti

आरती श्री वृषभानुसुता की |मंजु मूर्ति मोहन ममताकी || टेक ||
aarati shri vrshabhaanusuta ki | manju moorti mohan mamataaki || tek ||

त्रिविध तापयुत संसृति नाशिनि,विमल विवेकविराग विकासिनि |
trividh taapayut sansrti naashini,vimal vivekaviraag vikaasini |

पावन प्रभु पद प्रीति प्रकाशिनि,सुन्दरतम छवि सुन्दरता की ||
paavan prabhu pad preeti prakaashini,sundaratam chhavi sundarata ki ||

मुनि मन मोहन मोहन मोहनि,मधुर मनोहर मूरती सोहनि |
अविरलप्रेम अमिय रस दोहनि,प्रिय अति सदा सखी ललिताकी ||
muni man mohan mohan mohani,madhur manohar moorati sohani |
aviralaprem amiy ras dohani,priy ati sada sakhee lalitaaki ||

संतत सेव्य सत मुनि जनकी,आकर अमित दिव्यगुन गनकी,
आकर्षिणी कृष्ण तन मनकी,अति अमूल्य सम्पति समता की ||
sant seva sat muni jaanakee, aao aur amit divyagun gunaki,
akshishani krshn tan manakee, ati amooly sampati samata ki ||

कृष्णात्मिका, कृषण सहचारिणि,चिन्मयवृन्दा विपिन विहारिणि |
जगज्जननि जग दुःखनिवारिणि,आदि अनादिशक्ति विभुताकी ||
krshnaatmika, krshan sahachaarini, chinmayavrnda vipin vihaarini |
jagajjanani jag duhkhanivaarini, aadi anaadishy vibhutaaki ||

Benefits of Celebrating Radha Ashtami

There are several benefits of celebrating the Radha Ashtami. The Radha Ashtami is the birth anniversary of Radha Rani. People consider the day when Radha Rani was born on Earth as the best day for fasting and worshipping Radha Rani.

People say that if you worship Radha Rani, Lord Krishna will be pleased with you because Radha Rani was His beloved and soulmate. So if you do fasting and Worship Radha Rani on this day with a pure heart Lord Krishna will flourish you and your family with happiness and joy.

Fast on the Radha Ashtami helps you to purify your soul by removing your sins from your body and chanting Mantras helps to make your mind calm and peaceful.

There is a scientific benefit of fasting on the human body is that one who fasts can be saved from many dangerous diseases. Fasting helps to improve digestion and lose weight.

Conclusion

The Radha Ashtami is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. The devotees celebrate Radha Ashtami with great pomp and show. The Radha Ashtami is the birth anniversary of Radha Rani, the day when Radha Rani was born.

Radha Rani and Lord Krishna have a divine soul connection with each other. Radha Rani and ṣLord Krishna are the best couple or lovers till today. Their love stories are still relevant for new generations

People fast and pray to Radha-Krishna for prosperity and joy in their life.
The people of Braj Celebrate the Radha Ashtami with great pleasure and passion.
During the night of Radha Ashtami, performers present Ras Leela, dance, and kirtan.

Devotees chant mantras during the pooja and arti, and then they distribute the prasad among themselves. And perform dance and kirtan at night. Devotees can also celebrate Radha Ashtami at home by following the given instructions.

Devotees can Book a Pandit for pujas such as Griha Pravesh Puja, Marriage Puja, and Gauri Habba Puja on 99Pandit. Pandit Ji can help the devotees in performing the puja as per authentic vidhi.