Nandotsava

What is Nandotsava?

After Lord Sri Krishna appeared, Nanda Maharaja, leader of the cowherds of Vraja, held a great festival in His honour. Devotees keep that festival as Nandotsava on the day after Janmashtami, and in 2027 it falls on Thursday, 26 August.

Significance

Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, chapter 5, describes the day. Overjoyed, Nanda Maharaja bathed, dressed and invited brahmanas to chant Vedic hymns for the ceremony. He gave them two million decorated cows and seven hills of grain, and Vrajapura was hung with flags, garlands and mango leaves.

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada follows Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who explains that Vasudeva could not hold this ceremony for fear of Kamsa, so it was Nanda Maharaja who enjoyed it. The Bhagavatam paints the scene in Vraja:

In gladness, the cowherd men enjoyed the great festival by splashing one another’s bodies with a mixture of curd, condensed milk, butter and water. They threw butter on one another and smeared it on one another’s bodies.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.5.14

How to observe it

Devotees hear Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.5, sing kirtan, and share milk sweets and butter preparations with friends and neighbours. Giving in charity, as Nanda Maharaja did, is part of the day. Srila Prabhupada appeared on Nandotsava in 1896, so devotees also celebrate his appearance day.