Sunday, August 31st, 2025, marks the festival of Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. Srimati Radharani is the embodiment of devotion, energy, potency, and the merciful guide without whom one cannot hope to excel in bhakti (devotional service).
This festival also marks another important event at ISKCON Toronto. On Radhastami in 1972, our beloved Deities Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha were installed in a small Temple on Gerrard Street and have been the center of our community ever since. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha residing at our current location – 243 Avenue Road. As such, we are celebrating the “Golden Jubilee” of our Temple more information can be found HERE.
Radhastami celebrations will begin at 6:00 pm feature a special flower outfit darshan and culminate with an ecstatic 8:00 pm Arati during which Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha will be showered in thousands of flower petals in their annual pushpa-abisheka ceremony.
It has been an annual tradition on the evening of the festival where everyone can participate- gifts are brought in and are opened by the priests before Srimati Radharani. Our Pujari Department has provided the below list of gift suggestions (please note – items must be new and unused). Additionally, Srimati Radharani’s closets are in need of a major renovation; so devotees are strongly encouraged to give donations towards this project as a gift to Srimati Radharani on this auspicious occasion. Other sponsorship opportunities are also available. To donate online click HERE.
Gift Suggestions from our Pujari department:
- scented oils (alcohol-free)
- large wooden hangers (heay-duty)
- large plastic hangers (heay-duty)
- laundry soap
- jewelery
- large pins
- cleaning cloths
- cleaning supplies
- mops
- donations to renovate Srimati Radharani’s closets