There’s a quiet longing in many of us—not just to manage our lives better, but to feel that our lives are meaningful, connected, and held within something sacred. In this episode, we explore how the Bhakti calendar invites us into a different relationship with time—not as something to control, but something to enter into. Through holy days, fasting, and simple practices, we begin to shift from spiritual fragmentation into gentle, steady connection. This is an invitation to bring devotion into the rhythm of your real life—softly, sincerely, and in a way that nourishes both heart and soul.
Make Time Sacred Again
Someone recently asked me: How are holy days on the Bhakti calendar celebrated, and how can I observe them in a simple, meaningful way in my home? Why do we fast on certain days, and how do we do that in a way that feels real and supportive?
I like the question because in Bhakti, time is sacred. Time, in Bhakti, is not random. It’s structured, meaningful, and aligned with cosmic rhythms. In the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan Krishna says he is time. So Bhaktas honor time and desire to use it wisely.
The Bhakti calendar is more like an almanac. A regular calendar helps us plan our schedule. A Gaudiya almanac helps us align our lives with sacred time. It’s the difference between living in time or being corralled by time versus living in relationship with time. In Bhakti, there are many opportunities to live in relationship with time. And this shouldn’t be too surprising since Bhakti is all about relationships!
Understanding Sacred Time in Bhakti Practice
First, I’d like to point out that we don’t follow a solar calendar, which is the type of calendar we’re familiar with. On a solar calendar, we know, for instance, that New Year’s Day always falls on January 1 and Independence Day in America falls on July 4th.
Gaudiya Vaishnavas follow a lunar calendar, which means that the special days fall on different dates each year. This isn’t a problem because we reference the new calendar every year.
A lunar calendar is more closely tied to rhythms such as the moon’s cycles. And the movement of time is alive, not fixed. It reminds us that spiritual life isn’t mechanical. It’s relational, rhythmic, and responsive.
Because of this, our observances are calculated using something called a Panchanga, which takes into account five elements: the lunar day, the day of the week, the position of the moon, and other subtle alignments. It’s quite complex—but thankfully, we don’t have to calculate it ourselves.
You can access a tool like vaisnavacalendar.info or purchase a calendar. I’ll include a link below in the description where you can find both. https://store.krishna.com/search.php?search_query=calendar
Appearance and Disappearance Days in the Bhakti Calendar
When you go to the calendar, you will notice that instead of celebrating “birthdays” or days that mark someone’s death, we use the terms “appearance” and “disappearance.” This reflects a different understanding of identity.
From a Bhakti perspective, the soul and the Supreme Persons are eternal. What we call “birth” is the moment a soul or the Supreme Person becomes visible to us. And what we call “death” is simply when the soul or the Sweet Absolute is no longer visible in the same way.
With the appearance of Radha, Krishna, Balarama, Sri Caitanya, Nityananda, and other avatars and expansions, we honor and celebrate the moment eternity touches time.
Because the Gaudiya lineage stems from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, many of the holy days on the Bhakti calendar are those of Mahaprabhu’s associates.
And we also celebrate the teachers in our line. All these personalities embody different expressions of divine love in order to make this gift accessible to us. By remembering, hearing about, and honoring them, we come into contact with them and can receive direct blessings from them.
Our almanac was designed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the spiritual master of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was a highly learned jyotisa with knowledge of astronomy, astrology, and the mathematical sciences. He was especially known for his precision in calendar calculation, and he grounded Bhakti’s devotional life in precise alignment with sacred time.
With his knowledge and by consulting the major biographies of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, namely the Caitanya-caritamrita and the Caitanya-bhagavata, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura identified as many appearances and disappearances as he could find. Whatever we have on the Gaudiya calendar is everything that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura could properly identify. Many associates don’t appear on the calendar because dates for those personalities are unknown.
Major Bhakti Festivals and Their Meaning
There are more than eighty holy days on the Bhakti calendar! But fifteen are the most notable. Let’s go over them:
The observance of these days usually includes a fast, and many of them are broken at noon. Those who can fast can improve bodily health through digestive rest, cellular cleanup, better insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation. So there are spiritual and physical benefits. Those who are unable to fast but would like to perform a little austerity in honor of the personality can eat a lighter meal or refrain from beans and grains.
Fasts aren’t the only way we celebrate these days. After I describe the fifteen prominent days, I’ll describe ways we might honor them.
Janmastami is Krishna’s birthday, and it’s one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in India. For Gaudiya Vaishnavas, who understand that Sri Krishna is Bhagavan, it’s our most spiritually significant holy day. Traditionally, bhaktas fast until midnight, which is the time Krishna appeared in the world. Temples hold celebrations throughout the day up until midnight.
Radhastami is Sri Radharani’s birthday, a holy day mostly observed by Gaudiyas with a fast until noon. Her appearance day often speaks to me about deepening my understanding of my relationship with the Sweet Absolute. As the embodiment of pure love, she represents the highest expression of Krishna’s love. She is the medium through which the living entities’ service reaches Sri Krishna. Therefore, devotees seek the mercy of Sri Radha. I’ve spoken at length about Sri Radha in several episodes. Learn more about Radha in the episode “The Feminine Divine: Who is Goddess Radha” at https://youtu.be/rzKsQe9Ypuw
We celebrate the appearance of Sri Balarama, who is Krishna’s brother. Ontologically speaking, it is from Balarama, not Krishna, that all other expansions and avatars come from. He is the support of the entire spiritual and material worlds, and He gives spiritual strength to the devoted. Balarama is said to be the root of the divine ego, and he assists us in moving from the false ego to a divine, serving ego. This is indispensable in our spiritual pursuit. Also, Balarama is the original spiritual master. All other gurus in this world represent Sri Baladeva. There’s no fast on this day.
Gaura Purnima is the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna himself, coming in the mood of Sri Radha, to show how to practice bhakti. He is the father of kirtan, and he specifically taught the meditation and kirtan of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The fast is until moonrise on this day. If you want to know more about Caitanya, you can see the episode “Sri Caitanya: The Father of Kirtan” https://youtu.be/dTNs-mj7238
The appearance of Sri Nityananada Prabhu is fondly celebrated by Gaudiyas because he is the embodiment of indiscriminate mercy that he wishes to give to everyone, everywhere. Therefore, he’s known as the most merciful manifestation of the divine. He is Sri Caitanya’s brother and played a major role in popularizing Sri Caitanya’s kirtan yoga. He was a social reformer who included everyone, regardless of barriers, breaking down the designations of the Indian caste system. We fast until noon.
Narasimha Caturdasi is the appearance of Narasimha Bhagavan, who is the protector of his devotees. He famously came to protect young Prahlada, whose father had repeatedly tried to kill him because he was devoted to Krishna. He is the great protector, and he removes whatever obstacles or habits that threaten our devotion. He is our guardian in bhakti. Devotees fast until sunset, when he appeared.
Varahadeva appeared in the form of a divine boar to rescue the earth when she was submerged in chaos. He lifts her gently from the depths, reminding us that no matter how lost or overwhelmed we feel, the Divine is willing to enter even the darkest places to restore us. His appearance speaks to a deeply personal truth: nothing is too broken, too heavy, or too far gone to be lifted back into alignment through divine care. His day is celebrated the day after Ekadasi. Since the Ekadasi fast has to be broken on his day, there is no fast.
Diwali is a five-day celebration, and the middle day is one of the most beloved holy days in India and across the world. It’s known as the festival of lights that marks Rama’s return to his kingdom after years of exile and reminds us that light conquers darkness and that truth overcomes illusion.
Not all Gaudiyas celebrate this day, but everyone celebrates Govardhana Puja, a vibrant festival celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali. It commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill for seven days to protect His devotees. So on this day, we celebrate divine protection, gratitude, devotion, and connection to the Divine. There’s no fast.
Gita Jayanti, the advent of the Bhagavad Gita, marks the day Krishna spoke it to Arjuna. The wisdom of the Gita has attracted millions for centuries, and it continues to guide many through confusion, dilemmas, and our need for clarity. Many people read the whole Gita on this day. And giving the Gita as a gift is also done on this day. We don’t fast on this day.
In addition to these preeminent holy days are the appearance and disappearance of the gurus of our lineage. Those are A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who brought krsna-bhakti to the west, his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and his spiritual master and father, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. We read and remember the qualities and achievements of each of these acaryas and fast for half a day for each observance.
The appearance and disappearance days of the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu aren’t widely celebrated, and there are no fasts on them. Practitioners choose whether to observe the day. Many times a simple prayer or acknowledgement is made. Reading something about the person is a way to remember and acknowledge them.
Simple Ways to Celebrate Bhakti Holy Days at Home
And so, how might we celebrate these days at home in a simple and meaningful way?
Our celebration doesn’t have to be elaborate. Always, it’s the mood and intention that an act is performed that attracts the Supreme. Think of these days as invitations to turn toward developing a relationship with each personality by spending a few minutes on their day to remember them and make a little offering.
When you wake, you can pause and acknowledge, “Today is a sacred day, let me give a little attention to it.”
Perhaps you can set an intention to be open to receive grace and ask to be connected to the person and any messages that might come to you about the significance of the day. You can chant the maha-mantra with more dedication and attention, or chant extra. You might light a candle in remembrance or offer a piece of fruit, a flower, or even just your attention. Bhakti is not about what we do, but the heart with which we do it.
The best way to observe all these days is through hearing and remembering. Read something about the person. Oftentimes, there are classes available on YouTube about them. Let the life of a devotee gently enter your awareness.
You can listen to kirtans throughout the day, or host or attend a kirtan gathering. If time is short, weave it into your real life: while making tea, driving, exercising, or resting. The point is not to add pressure, but to infuse your existing life with connection.
If you’re someone who likes to journal, you might ask, What does this person’s life reveal about love?
You can intersperse these activities throughout the day, maybe in the beginning, middle, and end, or choose a single time to connect.
If you don’t feel able to connect, you can pray simply, “I don’t fully understand. Please guide me.” How might you observe a sacred day in a personal way to honor a special person?
Sacred Months in Bhakti: Kartika and Caturmasya Observances
In addition to holy days, we have holy months.
One of the most beloved is Kartika, which roughly falls in October–November, and is especially known as a stimulus for bhakti. When something enthuses us or inspires feelings for the Sweet Absolute and the practice of bhakti, it is known as a stimulant for spiritual engagement and feeling.
Kartika is often called the month of devotion, or the month of Damodara, referring to a beautiful lila where Krishna allows Himself to be bound by the love of His devoted mother, Yasoda Mayi. This tells us something profound—that love binds the Divine.
And the month is especially dear to Bhagavan Krishna because Kartika is Srimati Radharani’s month. Her month precedes Krishna’s month and indicates that it is Sri Radha’s grace that precedes full immersion in Bhakti. Devotional texts explain that just as Rādhārāṇī controls Krishna’s heart, pleasing her during Kārtika guarantees our spiritual progress because it pleases Krishna. With this in mind, we hope to please the Feminine Divine, so during this month, practitioners often increase their hearing, chanting, and offerings. They also make special vows, such as refraining from something they enjoy. It’s described that spiritual activities performed in this month reap one thousand times more benefit than those performed at other times.
Bhaktas daily sing a song called Damodarastaka. I’ll share a place where you can learn the words or listen to the bhajana. And they generally offer a candle every day at their altar or sacred space.
Kartika is also the final month of a four-month period called Caturmasya. Let’s briefly mention Caturmasya. Traditionally, during the rainy season in India, which lasted four months, traveling sages would stay in one place and deepen their spiritual practices. It was a time to intentionally slow down and simplify for inner renewal.
During the rainy season, digestion is considered weaker and more sensitive. So it was recommended that people avoid certain foods to ease digestive stress. Therefore, in each month of the four months, a fast from a certain food is suggested. During the first month, leafy greens are avoided. In the second month, no yogurt; in the third month, no milk; and in the fourth month, no urad dal.
It’s also within these four months of Caturmasya where some of the most celebrated days occur. There’s Janmastami, Krishna’s appearance; Radhastami, Radha’s appearance; and Govardhan Puja.
Ekadasi Fasting: Meaning, Practice, and Spiritual Focus
Next, let’s talk about Ekadasi. Among all observances, Ekadasi is one of the most regular and important. It occurs twice a month, on the eleventh lunar day.
Traditionally, Bhaktas fast from grains and beans on Ekadasi. So their meals are vegetables, fruits, nuts, ahimsa dairy, quinoa, and other non-grains like wild rice. Some take only simple foods. Some fast completely and occasionally; advanced practitioners may even fast from water for the entire day and night.
We should know that the essence of Ekadasi is not restriction but absorption of the mind on the Supreme. The mind becomes our main offering by using it to hear more about Radha and Krishna or Sri Caitanya and his brother Nitai, or other saints and teachers. We try to serve with more intention and remember, reflect, and reconnect.
Our ideal is to think, “Today, I offer myself more fully.” We are constantly feeding the body, the senses, the mind. Fasting creates a pause in that pattern and redirects our energy toward something higher. It reminds us: “I am not just this body. I’m not just these habits.”
The heart of these observances is very simple. They offer us an opportunity—an excuse—to make even a small gesture with sincerity to develop spiritual relationships.
Over time, these observances begin to change how we experience life. We no longer move through time unconsciously. We begin to notice sacred moments. We begin to respond and find ourselves in a sacred relationship with everything.
All Links mentioned in this blog post:
- Episode 12: “Sri Caitanya: The Father of Kirtan” – https://youtu.be/dTNs-mj7238
- Episode 11: The Feminine Divine: Who is Goddess Radha” – https://youtu.be/rzKsQe9Ypuw
- The song Damodarastakam:
Lyrics: https://kksongs.org/songs/n/namamisvaram.html
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p021vu4V0Ss&list=RDp021vu4V0Ss&start_radio=1
