Sri Krsna Rasayatra
Appearance Day of Sri Nimbarkacarya · Last day of Bhisma Pancaka · Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha
Festival
All day
What is Sri Krsna Rasayatra?
Sri Krsna Rasayatra is the day devotees remember the rasa dance, the dance of love in which Lord Sri Krishna danced with the gopis, the cowherd girls of Vrindavana. It is kept on the full moon of Kartika, the Damodara month. In 2026 that is Tuesday, 24 November.
Significance
The rasa dance is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sukadeva Gosvami begins by saying that Krishna, though full in all opulences, turned His mind toward loving affairs when He saw the autumn nights scented with jasmine. Srila Prabhupada explains in his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead that these pastimes are completely spiritual and free of material desire. The Bhagavatam also tells us why 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 place Them in a rasa mandapa, a decorated pavilion, surrounded by the gopis. Spend the day hearing the rasa-lila chapters of the Tenth Canto, chapters 29 to 33, and chanting the holy names. The same day is also Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha, the appearance day of Sri Nimbarkacarya and the last day of Bhisma Pancaka.
Questions
When is Sri Krishna Rasayatra in 2026?
Sri Krishna Rasayatra is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, the full moon of Kartika. It is also Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha and the appearance day of Sri Nimbarkacarya.
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 full-moon night. The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes it in the Tenth Canto, beginning at chapter 29.
Is Rasayatra the same as Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha?
No. They are separate observances that fall on the same day in 2026, Tuesday, 24 November. Rasayatra honours 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
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