Krsna conscious devotees follow a spiritual calendar that divides the year into twelve months, each named for a different form of Krsna. The devotees at the Hare Krsna center nearest you will gladly tell you more about the meaning of the festivals listed here.
Month of Sridhara
(July 12-August9)
August 5 – Trisprsa Ekadasi. Fasting from grains and beans. Disappearance anniversary of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. Disappearance anniversary of Srila Gauridasa Pandita, an associate of Lord Caitanya. Jhulana-yatra (swing festival) of Radha-Krsna begins.
August 9 – Jhulana-yatra ends. Appearance anniversary of Lord Balarama. Fasting till moonrise, followed by feasting. Also, second month of Caturmasya begins (fasting from yogurt).
Month of Hrsikesa
(August 10-September 7)
August 16 – Sri Krsna-janmastami, the appearance anniversary of Lord Krsna. Fasting till midnight. Call your local Hare Krsna temple for a schedule of events.
August 17 – Appearance anniversary of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Fasting till noon, followed by feasting.
August 20 – Annada Ekadasi. Fasting from grains and beans.
August 29 – Appearance anniversary of Srimati Sita-devi, the consort of Srila Advaita Acarya.
September 1 – Appearance anniversary of Srimati Radharani. Fasting till noon, followed by feasting.
September 4 – Parsva Ekadasi. Fasting from grains and beans.
September 5 – Sri Vamana-dvadasi, appearance anniversary of Lord Vamanadeva. Fasting till noon, followed by feasting. Appearance anniversary of Srila Jiva Gosvami, one of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana.
September 6 – Appearance anniversary of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. father of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (Srila Prabhupada's spiritual master), and a pioneer in preaching Krsna consciousness in English. Fasting till noon, followed by feasting. Disappearance anniversary of Srila Haridasa Thakura, the foremost teacher of the chanting of Hare Krsna.
September 7 – Third month of Caturmasya begins (fasting from milk).
Major Summer Festivals
Festival of the Chariots
August 1, 2 – Montreal
August 22, 23 – Vancouver
August 29, 30 – Los Angeles
September 5, 6 – San Francisco
Festival of India
August 8, 9 – Boulder
August 15 – Laguna Beach