Krishna & Radha
Honoured alongside: Narasimha · Agni
Two observances, one festival. The night before is Holika Dahan — a fire honouring Agni and recalling Prahlada's rescue by Narasimha. The next day belongs to Krishna and Radha, and the colour play is their lila.
What the puja consists of
- Before sunset, a pyre is built and circumambulated; grains, coconut and the season's new harvest are offered.
- The Holika fire is lit at the prescribed hour, and roasted grain is shared as prasad.
- The next morning, colours and water are offered first to the deity, then to elders, then to everyone.
- In Braj temples, Krishna and Radha are worshipped with abir and gulal before the community plays.
Core chants
Named, not printed — each links to a recording where the catalogue has one.
- Kirtan
Hare Krishna Mahamantraहरे कृष्ण महामन्त्र
The kirtan that carries the day in Braj and in ISKCON temples.
- Stotra
Narasimha Kavacham
Recited around Holika Dahan, recalling the protection of Prahlada.
Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.
- Kirtan
Radha–Krishna bhajans
Braj sings a seasonal repertoire from Vasant Panchami until Holi; these are the everyday Krishna bhajans behind it.
- Stotra
Adharam Madhuram (Madhurashtakam)मधुराष्टकम्
Vallabhacharya's eight verses on Krishna's sweetness, loved in the Pushtimarg tradition.
It differs where you are. Barsana's Lathmar Holi and Vrindavan's Phoolon wali Holi run for days before the main date; Bengal keeps it as Dol Purnima with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at its centre; parts of the south observe Kamadahana instead.
This page is editorial context, not religious instruction. Where your family, region or lineage does it differently, that is the version to follow — ask an elder or a teacher in your tradition rather than a website.