Sri Krsna Rasayatra
Appearance Day of Sri Nimbarkacarya · Last day of Bhisma Pancaka · Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha
Festival
All day
What is Sri Krsna Rasayatra?
On Sri Krsna Rasayatra, devotees remember the rasa dance of Lord Sri Krishna with the gopis of Vrindavana. It is kept on the full moon of Kartika, the Damodara month, and many people know this full moon day as Kartik Purnima. In 2026 it is on Tuesday, 24 November.
Significance
The rasa dance is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sukadeva Gosvami opens the account by saying that Krishna, though full in all opulences, turned His mind to loving affairs when He saw the autumn nights scented with jasmine. In his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srila Prabhupada explains that these pastimes are completely spiritual and free of material desire. The Bhagavatam itself gives the reason the Lord reveals them:
When the Lord assumes a humanlike body to show mercy to His devotees, He engages in such pastimes as will attract those who hear about them to become dedicated to Him.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.36
How to observe it
Devotees worship Sri Sri Radha and Krishna with many flowers and seat Them in a decorated rasa mandapa, with the gopis all around Them. The day is spent hearing the rasa-lila chapters of the Tenth Canto (chapters 29 to 33) and chanting the holy names. This year Rasayatra shares its date with Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha, the appearance day of Sri Nimbarkacarya and the last day of Bhisma Pancaka.
This holy day falls in Kartik, the month of Lord Damodara, when devotees offer Him a lamp each evening and sing Damodarashtakam. Read about Kartik (Damodara) Month, and offer your own lamp from wherever you are through our Kartik Deep Daan Seva.
Questions
When is Kartik Purnima (Sri Krishna Rasayatra) in 2026?
Sri Krishna Rasayatra falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, the full moon of Kartika. Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha and the appearance day of Sri Nimbarkacarya are kept on the same day.
What is the rasa dance of Lord Krishna?
The rasa dance is the pastime in which Lord Krishna danced with the gopis of Vrindavana on an autumn night of the full moon. The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes it in the Tenth Canto, starting with chapter 29.
Is Rasayatra the same as Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha?
No. They are two separate observances that fall on the same day in 2026, Tuesday, 24 November. Rasayatra is the festival of the rasa dance, while Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha is the marriage of Srimati Tulasi Devi and Lord Krishna.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- Also on this day
- Appearance Day of Sri Nimbarkacarya · Last day of Bhisma Pancaka · Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha
- Worshipped
- Sri Sri Radha and Krishna with the gopis
- Described in
- Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, chapters 29 to 33
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.