Religious Festivals (When, What, Why)

Festivals are a way to dedicate ever more time in Roopadhyan - Devotional Remembrance of God and Guru. That is why the ancient sages and seers started the practice of observing so many festivals.

The following festivals are celebrated in most of the ashrams of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj including Bhakti Dham (Mangarh, India), Rangeeli Mahal (Barsana, India), Shyama Shyam Dham (Vrindaban, India), Golok Dham (New Delhi, India).

Some of the festivals name's have links. Please click on those links to read more about it.

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When

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What

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Why

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Jan 1

Bhakti Divas ( New Year )

​The first day of the Roman Calendar. On this day evaluate how much progress you have made in your devotion since last year the same day. And pledge to do even more this year.

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​Jan 13

Lohri

Harvest festival

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Jan 14

​Makar Sankranti and Jagadguru Divas

The day sun starts travelling back to the north. For the reason this day is considered to be auspicious, that is why Bhishm Pitamah chose this day to leave his body. He waited for 6 months on a bed of arrows. This is also the day when Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was honored with the title of Jagadguruttam in 1957.

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5th day of waxing moon in Magha

​Basant Panchami

Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of the spring season. This festival of spring is celebrated with full vivacity and joy. In Sanskrit the word 'Basant' means 'spring season' and 'panchami' means the fifth day. This festival falls on the fifth day of the spring season (Magha). This festival is also known as Saraswati Puja. Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom is also worshiped in many parts of the country.

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Feb 14

Gopi Prem Divas

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj ​has renamed this day as Gopi Prem Divas, means the day all devotees of Madhurya Bhav felicitate their divine beloved Shri Krishna

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12th day of waxing moon in Magha

Prem Mandir Anniversary

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj offered his choicest blessings on mankind and the generations to come, in the form of this divine temple Prem Mandir, in the holy land of Vrindaban. For all seekers of unending divine bliss, this divine monument is and will continue to serve as the guiding light and source of inspiration.

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New moon day in Magha

​Maha Shiva Ratri

Shivratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Magha

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​11th day of waxing moon in Phalgun

Rang Ekadashi​

From this day onwards Shri Krishna starts playing Holi with colored powder.              

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​14th day of waxing moon in Phalgun

​Mahaprabhu Jayanti

Celebrated as the day of descension of Shri Radha Rani as Gaurang Mahaprabhu. In this avatar, Shri Maharprabhuji had spread the waves of Krishna Bhakti all over India.

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​Full moon in Phalgun

​Holi

Festival of colors. Scriptural reason for this festival is to remind all that God is omnipresent.

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​1st day of waning moon in Chaitra

Jagadamba Mahaprayan Divas (Ammaji's)

This is the day our divine mother, wife of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, left her divine remains and ascended to Golok.

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9th day of waxing moon in Chaitra

Ram Navami

The Supreme Lord Shri Ram descended on earth on this day, in the holy land of Ayodhya, India. For 11,000 years He performed His divine pastimes on this earth, thereby leaving His divine name, divine abode, divine form. Numerous seekers of unlimited-unending-divine bliss have used and still are using these as their aide to attain their ultimate goal.

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3rd day of waxing moon in Chaitra

Akshay Tritya

​Akshaya Tritiya, also known as "Akha Teej", is traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

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9th day of waxing moon in Vaishakha

Sita Jayanti

The day divine consort of Shri Ram, Mother Sita appeared on this earth.

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Full Moon in Ashadha

Guru Poornima

A qualified spiritual master is essential to learn God-realization. The full-moon day (poornima) is the auspicious day when Guru Poornima is celebrated by worshiping our Guru, the spiritual master, who taught us divine love.

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13th day of waxing moon in Shravana

Hariyali Teej

There are several traditional reasons to celebrate this auspicious day.  This day marks the onset of Monsoon season, which brings relief from the scorching heat of the summer sun. For the devotees of Shri Radha Krishna too this is a very devotionally elated day.

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5th day of waxing moon in Shravana

Naag Panchami

​The festival of Naga Panchami is celebrated by Hindus to pay respect to Nagas. The five Nagas worshipped on Nag Panchami are Ananta, Vasuki, Taxak, Karkotaka and Pingala. The festival, also celebrated as 'Gudiya', witnesses small children beating up cloth-made dolls as a tradition of the festival.

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Full moon in Shravana

Raksha Bandhan

Rakhi is basically a sacred thread of protection embellished with the love and affection and is celebrated amongst brothers and sisters.

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8th day of waning moon in Bhadrapad

Shri Krishna Janamashtami

Janmashtmi is the day when The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna descended in this material realm in Dwapar Yug and manifested His divine leelas in Vrindavan, which is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

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8th day of waxing moon in Bhadrapad

Shri Radhashtami

The day when Shri Radha Rani descended on earth. Radha Rani is feminine form of the Absolute Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. Along with Lord Shri Krishna, She performed various divine leelas in the land of Braj.  

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14th day of waxing moon in Bhadrapad

Anant Chaudas

This day, Bhadrapad Shukl Chaturdashi or Anant Chaturdashi, is an auspicious day, when people take away their mind from worldly actions and devote themselves to God, listen to legends of God Vishnu, recite hymns from the Vedas.

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10th day of waxing moon in Ashwin

​​Vijayadashmi, Dussehrai

The Festival of Dussehra concludes the festival of Navaratri, and the holy day also commemorates the triumph of good over evil. Dasha-hara in Sanskrit means the "conquered over the 10-headed". In the divine story Ramayana, Dussehra marks victory of the Lord Ram, son of King Dasharatha, over Ravana.

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Full moon in Ashwin

Sharad Poornima
and Jagadguruttam Jayanti Mahotsav

It is a full moon day in the month of Ashwin.It is also referred as Raas Lila Divas or Ras Lila day. It is the day when the deserving souls were graced by Lord Krishna in the Maharaas Leela. On the Sharat Poornima night of October, 1922, a divine personality, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj appeared in Mangarh village (near Allahabad, India) in a highly respectable brahmin family.  

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4th day of waning moon in Kartik

Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth is a fast observed by married Hindu women for long life of their husbands. Devotees of Shri Radha Krishna vow selfless devotion to the Divine Couple on this day.

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13th day of waning moon in Kartik

Dhanteras

This is also known as Yamadeep. It is celebrated 2 days before Deepavali. After the Sagar Manthan (churning of the ocean) by the Devtaas and Asuras, Dhanvantri vaidya (doctor of devatas) came out of the sea with an Amruth Kalash (pot of ambrosia). That is why, Dhanteras is also known as Dhanvantri Jayanti. In 2005 Bhakti Dham, Mangarh was dedicated on this day.

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14th day of waning moon in Kartik

Narka Chaturdashi

This is the day when Shri Krishna killed demon Nakasura and freed 16,100 girls from his captivity.  All of them sought shelter under his lotus feet so He assumed that many forms and married all of them  all-at-once.

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New moon in Kartik

​Deepawali

Deepawali or Diwali, is a festival of lights. This is the day Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana.

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1st day of waxing moon in Kartik

​Govardhan Pooja

The term 'Govardhan' has 2 meanings. Go means cows, and vardhan means nourishment. In second meaning other Go stands for senses and vardhan means to increase the inclination of the senses towards Sri Krishna. Both these jobs are done by Sri Giriraja. He blesses the devotees by increasing their devotion. Thus, by residing in the foothills of Sri Giriraja, all the senses and their respective duties of a soul attain divinity and are inclined to serve the Lotus Feet of Krishna. Also there is a story in the pastimes of Lord Krishna when Lord had lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to save the villagers from the heavy rainfall which was a consequence of the Indra's wrath on them. But Lord Krishna emerged as a savior to the villagers. On this day, Govardhan Hill is worshiped by the Hindus.

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2nd day of waxing moon in Kartik

Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is an auspicious Hindu occasion celebrated after Diwali. Bhai dooj is also known as Bhaiya dooj tikka festival and is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. It is a festival marked to celebrate the love and affection and the special bond between a brother and sister. According to scriptures, arfter killing Narkasur, Lord Krishna visited his sister who gave him a warm welcome. This Bhai Dooj katha (Story) marks the celebration of the Bhai Dooj festival.

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8th day of waxing moon in Kartik

​Gopashtami

On this day, as Lord Krishna entered the 5 years of (pauganda) age he was initiated as a cowherder. Devotees paint the horns of the cows with turmeric and put sindur (vermillion) on their foreheads. They also put hand marks on cow bodies.

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11th day of waxing moon in Kartik

​Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi

The importance of Dev Prabodhini Ekadasi narrated to Sage Narada by Brahma. The divine conversation is found in the Skanda Purana.The famous Tulsi Vivah festival is performed on this auspicious day- the symbolic wedding of Tulsi to Lord Vishnu.

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12th day of waxing moon in Kartik

Tulsi Vivah

This the day Shri Krishna married Tulsi.

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13th day of waxing moon in Kartik

Jagadguruttam Mahaprayan Divas

After ceaseless effort of 91 years in 2013, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj brought an end to his visible pastimes on this earth.

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Full moon in Kartik

Kartik Poornima

Also known as Tripurari Poornima, Kartik Poornima. Tripurari is a name of Lord Shiv as he killed a demon called Tipurasura on this day. Kartik poornima is also the birthday of Matsyavatar, God Vishnu's fish-incarnation. It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant. The festival is also known as Dev-deepawali.

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11th day of waxing moon in Margashish

Gita Jayanti

​The day when Shri Krishna gave the divine knowledge of Gita to Arjun in the battle field of Mahabharat.

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​Dec 25

Meri Radhe Divas (Christmas)

​This is the most important of all the festivals amongst the Christians and is celebrated nationwide as a festival of exchanging gifts and spreading happiness.