Friday, September 22nd, 2023, 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. Our celebrations will end with an ecstatic 8:00 pm Arati during which Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha will be showered in thousands of flower petals in their annual pushpa-abisheka ceremony. Sponsorship opportunities are available for more information click HERE!
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. This ceremony will take place at 7:10 pm, our Pujari Department has provided the following list of gift suggestions (please note – items must be new and unused):
- Jewelry (tiaras, necklaces, broaches)
- Natural scented oils
- Insence
- Safety pins
- Straight pins (corsage pins)
- Blu tack
- Silver and Copper Polish
- Pinesol
- Wood polish
- Laundry soap
- Candles
- Strong clothes hangers
- Plastic storage containers
- Cotton handkerchiefs
- Matchboxes and lighters