Radha

How to recognise Radha

1. Golden complexionHer body is shown glowing like molten gold, as her epithet Gaurangi describes, and in Rajput paintings she appears lighter beside the blue-skinned Krishna.
2. Veil (odhni)A fine veil or headscarf covers her head and shoulders, as in Pahari and Kishangarh paintings, and it suits the modest, graceful bearing of her image.
3. LotusThe golden lotus is her symbol, and court paintings show her holding a lotus or blossom.
4. DressShe wears a ghagra (lehenga) with a close-fitting choli, or a sari; painters have given her garments of radiant blue or red.
5. Jewellery and eyesLook for pearls and other jewellery, red lac (mahawar) on the hands, and large lotus-like eyes lined with kajal.
6. Krishna beside herThe blue-skinned, flute-playing Krishna, in yellow pitambara and a peacock-feather crest, often stands at her side as her beloved.
7. Vrindavan groveWhen a setting is shown, it is a flowering grove or a Yamuna bank with lotuses and cows, where she waits for Krishna or sits with him.

Names and titles

• Radharani, Queen RadhaRadharani (Radha-rani), 'Queen Radha', one of her most common names
• Queen of VrindavanVrindavaneshwari, 'sovereign of Vrindavan', among her names; she is called queen of Braj, Vrindavan and Barsana
• Kishori, the YouthfulKishori, one of her names, meaning the youthful one
• Ladli Ji of BarsanaLadli Ji, the beloved one, is among her names; Barsana's Ladli Ji temple keeps Radhashtami as the great day of its year
• Waiting for the Cows at TwilightRajasthani and Pahari miniatures show Radha waiting for Krishna to return with the cows in the twilight

Feast days

• Sharad Purnima25 October 2026

  The autumn full-moon night that devotees remember as the night Krishna danced the Raas with Radha and the gopis of Braj. It is also called Raas Purnima. It is the same celebration as the other Sharad Purnima entry in this list.

  How it's celebrated. Devotees offer kheer to the Lord, leave it out in the moonlight and share it as prasad. Many keep a night vigil of kirtan and prayer, and temple deities are usually dressed in white. Elsewhere in India the night is Kojagari Purnima, when Lakshmi is believed to bless those who stay awake. Some panchangs carry the full-moon tithi into the next morning, so calendars can differ by a day.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Sharada Purnima · Vrindavan Mathura Guide: Sharad Purnima · Hindu Mirror: Sharad Purnima and Kojagiri Night

• Kartik Purnima24 November 2026

  The full moon of Kartika, held special in Vaishnava tradition for the worship of Radha and Krishna. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana says Krishna worshipped Radha on this day. It is the same celebration as the other Kartik Purnima entry.

  How it's celebrated. A sacred vow is kept through the month of Kartika at the Jagannath Temple in Puri and other Radha-Krishna temples, and raaslila performances are held on the day itself. The same full moon is also kept by other communities for other reasons, such as Tripuri Purnima, Dev Deepawali and, for Sikhs, the birth of Guru Nanak. The Radha-Krishna emphasis is specifically Vaishnava.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Kartika Purnima · Wikipedia: Radha

• Lathmar Holi16 March 2027 (date to be confirmed)

  The 'Holi of sticks', played between Barsana, Radha's village, and Nandgaon, Krishna's, in the Braj Holi season. Devotees say it recalls Krishna's playful visits to Barsana to tease Radha and her friends. It is part of the wider Holi festival.

  How it's celebrated. Men of Nandgaon come to Barsana, where the women, in the role of Radha and her friends, playfully strike at them with long sticks. The men shield themselves and sing back, around the Radha Rani Temple on the hill. The day before, laddus are showered at the temple (Laddu Holi), and the next day the play is returned at Nandgaon. Guides differ by a day on dates, and the temple announces the final one.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Lathmar Holi · Vrindavan Mathura Guide: Lathmar Holi Barsana · Trip My Bharat: Lathmar Holi Barsana

• Holi22 March 2027

  The spring festival of colours on the full moon of Phalguna, preceded by the Holika Dahan bonfire. Many Vaishnava devotees also keep it as a celebration of the love of Radha and Krishna. Lathmar Holi belongs to the same season in Braj.

  How it's celebrated. On the eve a bonfire is lit for Holika Dahan. The next day people play with coloured powder and water, and sing and dance. Mathura and Vrindavan are famed for their Holi. In West Bengal and Odisha it takes the form of Dol Yatra, when images of Radha and Krishna are swung on decorated platforms. Celebrations last from two days to about forty, depending on the region.

  Sources: Britannica: Holi · Wikipedia: Holi · Wikipedia: Radha

• Krishna Janmashtami25 August 2027

  The birth of Krishna, which devotees believe took place at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight. Calendars name the month Bhadrapada or Shravana, depending on how the lunar month is reckoned.

  How it's celebrated. Devotees fast, sing and keep vigil until midnight. Then an image of infant Krishna is bathed, dressed and placed in a cradle, and the fast is broken with sweets. Mathura and Vrindavan hold the largest celebrations. In Maharashtra dahi handi follows, with human pyramids reaching a hung curd pot. In some places, such as Bengal, tiny footprints are drawn at doorways.

  Sources: Britannica: Janmashtami · Wikipedia: Krishna Janmashtami · Gods of India: Janmashtami

• Radhashtami8 September 2027

  Radha's appearance day, also called Radha Jayanti, kept on the bright eighth of Bhadrapada. It is celebrated at Barsana, her birthplace in tradition, and across Braj, notably in the Radha Vallabh, Gaudiya, Nimbarka, Pushtimarg and Haridasi traditions.

  How it's celebrated. Vrajavasis gather at the Radha Rani Temple on Bhanugarh Hill in Barsana, where large crowds come for worship. Devotees fast and honour Radha and Krishna with ritual and aarti. At the Radha Vallabh Temple and Seva Kunj in Vrindavan, the celebrations are recorded as lasting nine days. Almanacs can differ by a day on the date.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Radhashtami · Punjab Kesari (IANS): Radha Ashtami at Barsana · Bhakti Bharat: Shri Radha Rani Mandir