Radha Ashtami 2026 date and time: September 18 or 19? When is Radha Rani's birthday this year? Check shubh muhurat, vrat and puja vidhi

Radha Ashtami, also known as Radhashtami or Radha Jayanti, will be observed on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The festival is celebrated as the appearance day or birthday of Radha Rani and falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The festival is especially associated with Barsana and the wider Braj region.

According to the New Delhi panchang, the Ashtami Tithi begins at around 1:00 PM on September 18 and ends at around 3:26 PM on September 19. The main Radha Ashtami observance will therefore take place on September 19. The Madhyahna period, considered important for Radha Ashtami worship, is around 11:00 AM to 1:27 PM in the cited panchang. Exact timings can vary by location.

Radha Ashtami 2026 date and time

Event	Date and time
Radha Ashtami	Saturday, September 19, 2026
Ashtami Tithi begins	September 18, around 1:00 PM
Ashtami Tithi ends	September 19, around 3:26 PM
Madhyahna puja period	Around 11:00 AM to 1:27 PM
Hindu month	Bhadrapada
Paksha	Shukla Paksha

These timings are based on the cited Indian panchang and can differ slightly depending on the city and calculation method.

Why is Radha Jayanti celebrated?

Radha Ashtami marks the appearance day of Shri Radha, who holds a central place in Vaishnava traditions associated with Radha and Krishna. Devotees observe the day with prayers, fasting, bhajans and temple rituals. The festival has a particularly strong connection with Barsana, traditionally regarded as Radha's birthplace. Celebrations are also held across Vrindavan, Mathura, Nandgaon and other parts of the Braj region.

For many devotees, the occasion is less about elaborate celebrations at home and more about devotion, prayer and remembering Radha Krishna.

Radha Ashtami 2026 vrat: How to observe the fast

Devotees who observe the Radha Ashtami vrat generally begin the day with an early bath and prayers. The nature of the fast can vary according to family tradition and personal practice.

A typical vrat routine may include:

• Taking a bath and wearing clean clothes in the morning.
• Cleaning the place of worship and setting up an image or idol of Radha Krishna.
• Taking a sankalp for the vrat.
• Avoiding regular food during the fasting period, according to one's chosen vrat tradition.
• Offering flowers, fruits and other permissible bhog.
• Chanting Radha-Krishna names and reading devotional texts.
• Performing puja and aarti around the Madhyahna period.
• Breaking the fast according to one's family or sampradaya tradition.

There is no single fasting practice followed by every devotee. Some people observe a strict fast, while others take fruits, milk or vrat-friendly food. Those with health concerns may choose a suitable form of fasting after taking appropriate medical advice.

Radha Ashtami 2026 puja vidhi

The puja can be performed at home in a simple manner. The basic sequence may include cleaning the puja area, placing Radha Krishna idols or pictures and offering traditional items. First, devotees take a bath and clean the worship area. A diya can then be lit before Radha Krishna. The idols may be offered water or Panchamrit as part of the abhishek, depending on family tradition.

After this, devotees offer clothes, flowers, sandalwood, incense and a diya. Fruits and sweets can be presented as bhog. Prayers and Radha Krishna mantras are then recited, followed by aarti. Many temples mark the occasion with special abhishek, shringar, bhajan and kirtan programmes. ISKCON Bangalore, for example, has listed special Radhashtami celebrations for September 19, 2026.

What to offer Radha Rani on Radha Ashtami or Radha Jayanti?

Devotees commonly offer flowers, fruits, sweets and other vegetarian bhog during Radha Ashtami puja. Traditional worship may also include Panchamrit, incense, lamps and items used for shringar. The specific offerings differ between temples, regions and families, so devotees can follow the practice traditionally observed in their household or local temple.

Radha Ashtami celebration in Barsana and Vrindavan

Radha Ashtami is closely associated with the Braj region, particularly Barsana. Temples in Barsana, Vrindavan, Mathura and nearby areas hold special programmes for the festival. The celebrations can include devotional singing, special darshan, abhishek, temple decoration and other religious ceremonies. For devotees observing the festival at home, however, elaborate arrangements are not necessary. A simple prayer, bhog and aarti can also form part of the day's observance.

Radha Ashtami 2026: Important things to remember

Radha Ashtami falls on September 19, 2026, while the Ashtami Tithi begins on September 18 and continues into September 19. The principal observance is on September 19 according to the cited panchang. Since Hindu festival timings can vary by location, devotees planning the puja around a specific muhurat should check a local panchang for their city. The fasting rules can also differ according to family and religious tradition.

(Disclaimer: The information above is based on Hindu calendar calculations and traditional practices. Puja timings and rituals may vary by location, sampradaya and family tradition.)