It’s a glorious, grand occasion, full of fun meetings, loving exchanges and the warmth of close family relationship. It is Radhastami in Varshana, a meeting of two families rejoicing in Radhaji’s lovely birthday festival. Read on, envisioning that you are there this year with all the wonderful, sweet, kind and loving devotees of Vraja!
Two days before Radhastami, Vrshabhanu Maharaja, Priyaji’s father, sends Sridama, Radha’s elder brother, to Nandagrama to invite Nanda Baba and his clan to come to Varshana for celebrating Sri Radhika’s auspicious birthday. The day before Radhastami, Nanda Baba Krishnachandra and his entire family come to Varshana by walking, sitting on palanquins or riding in bullock-carts. Hearing the musical instruments joyously resounding, Vrshabhanu and his brothers come to greet their guests.
Kirtida-devi, Radhaji’s mother, and her sisters-in law greet Nanda Baba and his clan, show them their quarters, and bring them to the royal dining room. Radhika and Her chief sakhis like Lalita and Champakalata have cooked a wonderful feast. Rice, vegetables, puris, kheer and many other delicious dishes are devotedly offered to Maharaja Vrshabhanu’s kula-devata of Lord Narayana.
Afterwards, Sridama arranges all the prasada to be served in the courtyard of the palace. Radhika and Her sakhis start quarreling about who can serve first. Shyama-sakhi, feigning anger, says, “Look Radhe! It's Your father's invitation, so what's it to us? If You want to serve first, then do it.”
Hearing the sakhis loving quarrel, Kirtida Ma intervenes and devises a solution. She makes many different lines for serving the prasada. Then she appoints each sakhi to serve her own line of guests. Thus everyone gets the chance “to serve first”.
After eating the sumptuous feast, all the guests wash their mouths, chew betel leaves and retire to their individual bedrooms.
While everyone sleeps, Radhika, using the pretext of picking flowers, goes to nearby Vilasa Kunda and secretly meets Shyamasundara. After a short blissful time together, Krishna returns to the His guest room.
Srimati Radharani Radhastami Maha Mahotsava ki jai!
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
By Mahanidhi Swami