Celebrations:

The festival is organized in the honor of the birth of Sri Hit Harivansh Chandra Mahaprabhu, founder of the sect and the sectarian New Year ‘Hitabda’. It’s eleven day festival right from the Ashtami (Eighth day of bright fortnight of Vaishakh). Holy procession with Holy Swaroops of Sri Radha and Lord Krishna in tastefully decorated chariot hit the streets. Bands and musicians, devotees party dancing and singing devotional songs starting from the temple and culminate at Ras-Mandal. Passing through the main streets and lanes of Sridham Vrindavan it is a blissful site. The procession which starts in the evening, becomes a daily routine for four days in accordance of age-old tradition. On the tenth day of the bright fortnight, the deity at Radhavallabh Temple is adorned in Royal Red garbs, whereas devotees keep awake whole night at Ras Mandal, singing congratulatory devotional songs (Badhai-Gaan) and Dhandhi-Dhandhan dancing.

Holy Musical Tribute:
The present reigning Goswami honors these celebrations by reciting holy couplets:
"Mlechha sakal Hari yash vistarhin,
Param lalit Vani Uccharahi,
Karahin Praja Palan Sabae."
This congratulatory couplets recalls how Mughal Rulers rejoiced festivities of the birth of Sri Hit Mahaprabhu.On the Eleventh day of the bright fortnight, before the Mangla Aarti at Radhavallabh Temple delicacies are prepared in the temple well known "Dadhi Kando" prepared from (curd of cow's milk marinated with sandal Paste and saffron) sprinkled by the Goswamis on the devotees, followed by ritual bath of Holy Flute and Deity with Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar and Holy Yamuna water (Panchamrita Abhisheka) at Mangala itself. Congratulatory devotional couplets are sung by Samaji (Temple Musicians) sing heralding the birth of Incarnation of the Holy Flute, Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu.

Decorations and bhog:
During Sringaar, the Sanctorum is decorated, inside and outside with pitchers containing holy Yamuna water having 'panch-pallavas' (Five leaves of different holy threes), 'Bandanwars' (holy leaves tied in thread in a row) hung, decorated in new yellow colored garbs with various ornaments seated under a canopy having plantain trunks on its four sides. Various types of delicacies having Moothaa Laddos, Besan Ladoos, Mathari (sweet), Sweet Seva, Sakalpara, Salt Mathari, Mohanbhog etc. offered to Deity.Devotees offer alms to the poor. They make special offerings to the Deity to commemorate the Grand occasion. Feasting, congratulatory songs and rejoicings continues till 2nd, day of Jyestha Krishna (Dark fortnight) on which day "Shashthi" (Sixth day) of Sri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu is celebrated with great pomp, Van-Vihar (visit to Forest Groves) and Circumnavigation of Sri Vrindavan at night with Temple Musicians (Samaj) singing devotional songs in attendance, is performed with great serenity.

Date: Mohini Ekadashi, Vaishakh Category: Maha Mahotsava Festival Dress Color: Yellow