Radhastami Festival

Authors: HG Gaurachandra Das, HG Uttama Caitanya Das

Celebrated a fortnight after Sri Krishna Janmastami, this festival has a special place in the heart of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, who are ultimately followers of Srimati Radharani. The ultimate aspiration of us Gaudiyas is to be a servant of the servant of the servants of Srimati Radharani, so that we can somehow assist in Her perfect endeavours to please Sri Govindaji. Srimati Radharani is the reservoir of love for Sri Krishna. She is known as Hara, the one who steals the mind of Hari by her unparalleled love and divine qualities. By her mercy alone can we develop devotion to Sri Hari.
 While Sri Krishna Janmastami is a public festival, Sri Radhastami is more of a festival for the devotees. On this day devotees get an opportunity to beg for the mercy of the abode of love so that they can get a drop of it. As such devotees always look forward for this opportunity when they can glorify Her to their hearts content and dance with gay abandon singing ‘Radhe Radhe’.  

Sri Radhastami was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety at Sri Jagannath Mandir. The temple was decorated beautifully by the flower decoration team headed by HG Tyaga Caitanya pr and HG Basanta Rag mtj. The flower design was wonderfully unique as always. Wonderful flower designs were seen hanging from the ceiling resembling the bowers of Vrindavan.

 

Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra and Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara looking extremely regal in Their new outfits.

 

The programme began at around 5pm with abhishek of Their Lordships that was participated by some 80 devotees. That was followed by Guru Puja, Tulasi Arati and Sandhya Arati.

 

Then their Lorships Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda were placed elegantly on a beautifully decorated swing. The swing was placed within a beautifully-decorated gazebo enclosure which gave the idea of a grove (nikunja) of Vraja.

 

While Their Lorships were gently swung in their kunja, HG Uttama Caitanya pr spoke on the wonderful birth and pastimes of Srimati Radharani.

 

The culmination of the evening programme was the swing festival and that climaxes in the revelation of Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet.

 

Devotees came forward with wonderful offerings of bhoga for the pleasure of the divine couple as they enjoyed Their swing pastimes as other devotees were singing beautiful songs glorifying Sri Sri Radhe Shyam and Vrindavan Dham.

 

The pinnacle of the festival was giving of darshan of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. This is a rare event and is done only once a year on this special occasion. Devotees continued to blissfully dance and sing late into the night. All were blissfully recharged to continue their service to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

 

Some 400-over devotees gathered to celebrate this glorious event and experience a little mood of  Varsana on a wonderful evening.

 

Jay Radhe, Jaya Krishna, Jaya Vrndavan.