Radha Jayanti or Radhashtami is a
Hindu festival that is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Goddess
Radha or Radhika, the consort of Lord Krishna. The festival is also known as
Radha Jayanti as people believe that Goddess Radha was born on this day. During
this occasion, one can observe a fast and worship the deity as per the rituals.
Rituals
On this day, devotees should wake up early and take a bath. Wear clean
clothes and offer Arghya to Lord Surya.
Place a Kalash in your pooja room. Now place a copper vessel/plate on the Kalash.
Offer a holy bath to Goddess Radha's
idol with Panchamrit. Decorate the idol of the Goddess with new clothes,
flowers, jewellery and other things used for decoration. Now place the idol of Goddess Radha on the
copper vessel/plate kept over the Kalash. Offer the Prasad and other offerings
to the Goddess and pray for yourself and your loved ones. Perform the aarti of the Goddess. Now
distribute the prasad among the needy and loved ones.
Significance
According to some scriptures, Goddess Radha is the incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi. It is said that Radha was born out of a divine lotus on the surface of the water and was later found out by Vrishbhanu and his wife Kamalavati or Kirti. Lord Krishna and Radha are seen as the symbol of divine and true love.