On this day, it is recommended that one should perform full worship of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna with many flowers, and place Them in a rasa mandapa, or dancing arena, surrounded by Their gopi friends. On this day, beautiful dancing deities of Srimati Radharani and the Asta Sakhis, each with their own Madhava, are set up on the platform just below Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s altar. The young Mayapur girls dress all eighteen deities and decorate them with flowers and draw beautiful rangoli designs on the floor.

Just as the Vrajavasis make sweet rice and many other milk sweets for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Krsna on the night of Their Rasa-lila, the Mayapur devotees prepare various milk sweets, especially sweet rice, to offer to the Lord, and leave them under the moonlight. It is said that these offerings turn into amrta, or nectar, and are tinged with a special sweetness, because the Divine Couple and the gopis personally honour these offerings of love and devotion after Their Rasa-lila pastimes.

By following these days of Bhishma Panchaka fasting one gets the benefit of all the four chaturmasya fasting if one had been unable to follow the same.

The fasting starts on Ekadasi Day which is 19th November (Monday) and will continue until the 23rd November Rasa Purnima Day (last day of caturmasya, last day of Damodara month). The fasting is broken at sunset (or at moon rise) on Rasa Purnima day. Generally, it is recommended to do full fast on Ekadasi and then the following days fruits and roots fasting. Or one can do all the days with fruits and roots fasting.

Devotees can choose whichever level of fasting as is convenient to them. It should not disturb their normal devotional service(s) and daily sadhana.

Level 1: Pancha Gavya. Level 2: Fruits and roots. Level 3: Havishya

His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada said "Chant and be happy". How can we stay happy in Krishna Consciousness? This short video reveals the secret to permanent happiness.

Tulsi Vivah or Marriage: This beloved festival falls on the 11th day of Kartik's bright half. According to the Padma Purana, Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) was once Vrinda, daughter of the giant Nemi and devoted wife of the demon Jalandhar. Born from water, Jalandhar claimed sovereignty over the ocean and demanded the 14 treasures churned during Vishnu's second incarnation. He waged war against the gods, protected by a boon that he could not die while his wife remained chaste.

To defeat Jalandhar, Vishnu deceived Vrinda by taking her husband's form. In her wrath, Vrinda cursed Vishnu, turning him into a black stone (Salagram). Vishnu retaliated, but admiring her unwavering chastity and piety, he transformed her into the sacred Tulsi plant and promised to marry her annually on this day. The black ammonite stones or Salagrams found in the Gandaki riverbed are attributed to this legend.

Consequently, devout Hindu women worship the Tulsi plant with flowers and milk, believing Lord Krishna resides within it on this auspicious day. A mock marriage is performed between Tulsi and the Salagram. Those who perform this ceremony, treating Tulsi as their own daughter, receive the merit of Kanyadan - an extremely meritorious act in our religion. This sacred day marks the auspicious opening of the Hindu marriage season.

They are not like the crows, who are simply trying to take some pleasure from the garbage place. That's all. What is there in the garbage? They are all rejected, thrown away. But the crows will go there. They'll pull on something, 'If there is something there, something?' So, as there is a natural distinction between the crows and the swans, similarly, there is distinction between a Kṛṣṇa conscious person and ordinary person. The ordinary persons are compared like the crows, and a fully Kṛṣṇa conscious person is just like swans and ducks."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969)

Why is this weekly? This should be daily! Sri Sri Radha Madhav ki Jai!