ISKCON — observances and vrat guides
ISKCON observances follow the devotional life of the Gaudiya Vaishnava community. Ekadashi, Gaura Purnima, Krishna's appearance celebrations and acharya remembrance days have distinct places in temple practice. An Ekadashi calculation can differ from a household Smarta calendar, especially when Dashami touches the relevant morning. Grain avoidance is not simply a preference for a lighter meal: devotees follow the temple's Ekadashi rules for offerings and prasadam. The calendar also connects reading, chanting and service with particular celebrations. These pages separate monthly fasting from appearance and disappearance observances instead of treating every event as an identical fast.
The catalog currently includes 40 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Gaura Purnima; Purushottam Adhik Maas Purnima; Nityananda Trayodashi; Janmashtami; Radhashtami. Their recorded devotional focus includes Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gauranga); Lord Purushottam (Sri Krishna); Sri Nityananda Prabhu (expansion of Lord Balarama); Sri Krishna (Bhagavan Vasudeva — Supreme Personality of Godhead); Srimati Radharani (Hladini-shakti — the divine energy of Krishna). Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 40 observances in this collection
- Gaura Purnima — March 3, 2026
Gaura Purnima celebrates the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 CE) — the golden avatar who came to freely distribute pure love of God through the sankirtana movement of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Born in Navadvipa, West Bengal on Phalgun Purnima, he is revered as the combined form of Radha and Krishna
- Purushottam Adhik Maas Purnima — May 31, 2026
The full-moon (Purnima) of Purushottam Maas — the extra lunar month (Adhik Maas) that falls roughly every three years to align the lunar and solar calendars. In 2026 Purushottam Maas runs from 17 May to 15 June, and its Purnima falls on 31 May. Because Lord Krishna adopted this 'leftover' month as His own, Vaishnavas treat the entire month — and especially its Purnima — as a uniquely auspicious time for fasting, chanting, and charity.
- Nityananda Trayodashi — January 31, 2026
Nityananda Trayodashi celebrates the appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu on Magh Shukla Trayodashi. He is the expansion of Lord Balarama and the closest associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — known as the embodiment of unconditional divine mercy who freely distributes Krishna-bhakti to all, regardless of qualification
- Janmashtami — September 4, 2026
Janmashtami celebrates the midnight appearance of Lord Sri Krishna — the Supreme Personality of Godhead — in Mathura on Bhadra Krishna Ashtami. ISKCON temples worldwide stay open all night with kirtan, drama, abhishek at midnight, and a grand prasadam feast to welcome the Lord
- Radhashtami — September 19, 2026
Radhashtami celebrates the appearance of Srimati Radharani — the eternal consort and divine energy (hladini-shakti) of Lord Krishna — on Bhadra Shukla Ashtami, 15 days after Janmashtami. She is the queen of Vrindavan and the embodiment of pure, selfless devotional love
- Kartik Damodara Month — October 8, 2026
Kartik — the month of Damodara — runs from Sharad Purnima to Kartik Purnima (roughly October–November) and is considered the holiest month of the Vaishnava year. ISKCON devotees worldwide offer a ghee lamp and sing the Damodarashtaka daily to Lord Damodara — Krishna as the butter thief bound by Yashoda's rope of love
- Narasimha Chaturdashi — April 30, 2026
Narasimha Chaturdashi (Sri Nrsimha Caturdasi) celebrates the appearance of Lord Narasimha — the 4th of the Dashavatara. Hiranyakashipu received boons so that he could not be killed by day or night, inside or outside, by man or animal, on earth or in sky, with a weapon or without. At the moment of dusk, on the threshold of a pillar in his own palace, on his own lap, with bare hands — Narasimha fulfilled every condition and destroyed the demon. Prahlada's pure devotion was vindicated. Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi — 2026: May 11 · 2027: Apr 30
- Sri Rama Navami — March 27, 2026
Sri Rama Navami — the appearance day of Sri Ramachandra at Ayodhya. Caitra Shukla Navami. ISKCON observes a strict no-grain fast until sunset with continuous Rama-katha and the noon Rama-abhishekam. The Ramayana parayanam runs in temples worldwide — Ayodhya, Sridham Mayapur, Vrindavan, Tirupati, Bhadrachalam, and every ISKCON temple from Los Angeles to Moscow.
- Akshaya Tritiya / Chandana Yatra Begins — April 19, 2026
Akshaya Tritiya — Vaisakha Shukla Tritiya — the first day of the 21-day Chandana Yatra at Sri Jagannatha Puri and at ISKCON temples worldwide. Cooling sandal paste is applied to the deities daily through the summer heat until Sri Nrsimha Caturdasi. The day is auspicious for beginning any vow, charity, or spiritual practice — the merit is 'akshaya' (inexhaustible).
- Sri Ramanujacharya Disappearance — May 23, 2026
The disappearance day of Sri Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE) — the second of the four Vaishnava acharyas (Madhva, Ramanuja, Vishnuswami, Nimbarka) accepted in our parampara. Vaisakha Shukla Dasami. Observed at every ISKCON temple as a day of remembrance for the great Vaishnava theologian.
- Sri Snana Yatra (Jagannatha Bathing Festival) — June 29, 2026
Sri Snana Yatra — Jyestha Purnima — the public bathing of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi at Puri with 108 pots of water from the Suna Kua (Golden Well). After this bath, the deities enter anavasara (15-day seclusion) and are repainted with fresh colour by the daitas (the descendants of Lalita and Vishvavasu). They emerge for the public on Ratha Yatra day.
- Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra — July 16, 2026
Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra — Asadha Shukla Dvitiya — the most public festival of Sri Jagannatha, when the Lord leaves the temple to journey to the Gundicha mandir (His aunt's house) on three giant chariots: Nandighosa (Jagannatha), Taladhwaja (Baladeva), and Devadalana (Subhadra). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic dancing before this Ratha at Puri is the climax of His pastimes. Today every major ISKCON city — London, San Francisco, New York, Sydney, Moscow, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata — holds its own Ratha Yatra, attended by hundreds of thousands.
- Hera Pancami / Lakshmi Vijaya — July 20, 2026
Hera Pancami — Asadha Shukla Sasthi (5 days after Ratha Yatra) — the day Sri Lakshmi Devi visits Sri Jagannatha at the Gundicha mandir to bring Him back to the main temple. The mana-lila (love-quarrel) between Lakshmi and Jagannatha is reenacted at Puri with Lakshmi's palanquin processing to Gundicha and 'demanding' the Lord's return. Observed at all major ISKCON temples with Jagannatha deities.
- Ulta Ratha / Bahuda Yatra — July 24, 2026
Ulta Ratha (the 'reverse chariot') / Bahuda Yatra — Asadha Shukla Dasami — the return procession of Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra from the Gundicha mandir back to the main temple at Puri. 9 days after Ratha Yatra. The same three chariots, the same crowds, the same ecstatic kirtans — but now homeward bound. Observed at all ISKCON temples with Jagannatha deities.
- Sayana Ekadashi / Caturmasya Begins — July 25, 2026
Sayana Ekadashi (Devshayani / Hari-sayani / Padma Ekadashi) — Asadha Shukla Ekadashi — the day Lord Vishnu 'goes to sleep' on Sesa Naga in the Ksirodaka ocean for four months. This begins the Caturmasya vrata — four months (Sravana, Bhadra, Aswin, Kartika) of intensified sadhana and specific food restrictions month-by-month. The four months end on Probodhini / Utthana Ekadashi when the Lord 'awakens'.
- Sri Sanatana Goswami Disappearance — July 28, 2026
The disappearance day of Sri Sanatana Goswami — Asadha Shukla Caturdashi — eldest of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, author of the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, the Brihad-bhagavatamrita, the Dasama-tippani, and the discoverer of Sri Madana-mohana. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's 2-month personal instructions to Sri Sanatana at Varanasi are the foundation of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.
- Sri Rupa Goswami Disappearance — August 19, 2026
The disappearance day of Sri Rupa Goswami — Sravana Krishna Dvadasi — younger brother of Sri Sanatana, author of the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (the foundational text of Vaishnava rasa-shastra), Ujjvala-nilamani, Vidagdha-madhava, Lalita-madhava, and the discoverer of Sri Govinda-deva at Vrindavan. The most central acharya of our parampara after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.
- Jhulan Yatra (5-Day Swing Festival) — August 24, 2026
Jhulan Yatra — the 5-day swing festival from Sravana Shukla Ekadashi to Purnima — when Sri Sri Radha-Krishna are placed on a beautifully decorated swing and gently rocked by the devotees with fresh flowers, peacock feathers, and continuous kirtan. One of the most beloved Vraja-lila festivals at Vrindavan, Mayapur, and every ISKCON temple worldwide.
- Sri Balarama Avirbhava (Balarama Purnima) — August 28, 2026
Sri Balarama Avirbhava — Sravana Purnima — the appearance day of Lord Baladeva, Sri Krishna's elder brother and the first plenary expansion of the Lord. The 5-day Jhulan Yatra concludes today. Observed at every ISKCON temple with deity-abhishekam and a grand Bal-bhog feast (Balaji's special prasadam offerings).
- Sri Vyasa Puja (Srila Prabhupada Avirbhava) — September 5, 2026
Sri Vyasa Puja — Bhadra Krishna Trayodashi — the appearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (Sept 1, 1896 – Nov 14, 1977), the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This is the most important day of the year for every ISKCON devotee. Disciples worldwide offer written homages, perform abhishekam of Srila Prabhupada's murti, and feast on his favourite prasadam.
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Appearance — September 7, 2026
The appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Sac-cid-Ananda Bhakti-vinoda) — Bhadra Krishna Tritiya. The Seventh Goswami, modern restorer of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, discoverer of Sri Caitanya's birthplace at Mayapur, author of Saranagati / Jaiva Dharma / Sri Caitanya Siksamrita / Sri Krishna Samhita, and the parama-guru of Srila Prabhupada (grand-spiritual-grandfather of ISKCON).
- Sri Haridasa Thakura Disappearance — September 9, 2026
The disappearance day of Sri Haridasa Thakura — Bhadra Krishna Pancami — the Namacharya. Born a Muslim, he became Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's most beloved associate and the supreme exemplar of nama-bhajan (chanting of the holy name). His disappearance pastime — Sri Caitanya holding his body and dancing — is one of the most ecstatic and tearful chapters of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.
- Sri Lalita Sasthi — September 17, 2026
Sri Lalita Sasthi — Bhadra Shukla Sasthi — the appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi, the foremost sakhi of Srimati Radharani. Two days before Sri Radhastami. The asta-sakhi — Lalita, Vishakha, Citra, Indulekha, Champaklata, Ranga-devi, Tunga-vidya, and Sudevi — are the inner-circle servants of the divine couple. Lalita is their leader.
- Sri Vamana Avirbhava (Vamana Dvadasi) — September 23, 2026
Sri Vamana Avirbhava (Vamana Dvadasi) — Bhadra Shukla Dvadasi — the appearance day of Lord Vamana, the fifth of the Dashavatara. Born to Aditi and Kashyapa Muni as a tiny Brahmana boy who grew to encompass the entire universe in three steps. Especially beloved at Tirupati (where Sri Venkateswara is identified with Sri Vamana) and at Sri Trikkakkara (the original Vamana temple in Kerala — the source of Onam).
- Sri Radha-kunda Avirbhava (Bahulastami) — November 4, 2026
Sri Radha-kunda Avirbhava (Bahulastami) — Kartika Krishna Astami — the appearance day of Sri Radha-kunda, the most sacred bathing place of Srimati Radharani at the foot of Govardhan Hill. Sri Rupa Goswami in the Upadesamrita (Verse 11) declares Radha-kunda as the supreme tirtha. Devotees from across the world travel to Radha-kunda for the midnight snana on this day.
- Sri Govardhan Puja / Annakuta — November 10, 2026
Sri Govardhan Puja / Annakuta — Kartika Shukla Pratipada (the day after Diwali) — the worship of Sri Giriraja Govardhan, the sacred hill of Vraja non-different from Sri Krishna Himself. Devotees offer the Annakuta — a 'mountain of food' symbolically equal to the hill — and perform the 21-km Govardhan parikrama. Observed at every ISKCON temple worldwide with grand annakuta feasts.
- Srila Prabhupada Disappearance — November 13, 2026
Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day — Kartika Shukla Caturthi — the day His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada departed from this world at Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan on November 14, 1977 (during the holy month of Damodara). The most solemn day of the ISKCON year — observed worldwide with all-day kirtan, abhishekam of Srila Prabhupada's murti, reading of his Vyasa Puja homages, and showing of films from his life.
- Probodhini / Utthana Ekadashi (Caturmasya Ends) — November 20, 2026
Probodhini / Utthana / Hari-prabodhini Ekadashi — Kartika Shukla Ekadashi — the Lord's awakening from His 4-month yoga-nidra. The Caturmasya vrata begun on Sayana Ekadashi concludes today. Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha takes place tomorrow on Dvadasi. One of the most powerful Ekadashis of the year — Vows completed today bear maximum fruit.
- Bhishma Pancaka (Last 5 Days of Kartika) — November 20, 2026
Bhishma Pancaka — the final 5 days of Kartika (Kartika Shukla Ekadashi to Purnima) — when Bhishmadeva on the bed of arrows offered the Vishnu Sahasranama to Sri Krishna in the presence of the Pandavas. Concludes the Caturmasya vrata, the Damodara-vrata, and the entire Kartika observance. The spiritual climax of the Vaishnava year.
- Sri Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha — November 21, 2026
Sri Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha — Kartika Shukla Dvadasi (the day after Probodhini Ekadashi) — the formal wedding of Srimati Tulasi Devi (Vrinda) to Sri Saligrama-sila (Sri Vishnu). Performed at every ISKCON temple and home altar with a small wedding ceremony — Tulasi dressed as the bride, Saligrama as the groom, garlands exchanged, wedding feast offered. Concludes Caturmasya formally and inaugurates the wedding season.
- Sri Krishna Pushya Abhishek — January 13, 2027
Sri Krishna Pushya Abhishek — Pausha Purnima — Sri Krishna's annual coronation festival. The combination of Pushya nakshatra (Sri Krishna's favourite as stated in Bhagavad-gita 10.21) and Pausha Purnima makes this one of the most auspicious abhishekam days of the year. ISKCON temples in Vrindavan and Mayapur perform the most elaborate coronation ceremonies.
- Sri Jiva Goswami Disappearance — January 6, 2027
The disappearance day of Sri Jiva Goswami — Pausha Krishna Tritiya — youngest and most prolific of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, author of the Sat-sandarbhas (the philosophical foundation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism). Established Sri Sri Radha-Damodara mandir at Vrindavan — where Srila Prabhupada later wrote much of his Bhagavatam translation in his bhajan-kutir.
- Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura Disappearance — January 8, 2027
The disappearance day of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura — Pausha Krishna Pancami — founder of the Gaudiya Math, son and disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and the dikshana-guru of Srila Prabhupada. He instructed Srila Prabhupada at their first meeting (1922) to preach Krishna consciousness in English to the Western world — an instruction Srila Prabhupada fulfilled by founding ISKCON 44 years later.
- Sri Advaita Acarya Appearance — February 22, 2027
The appearance day of Sri Advaita Acarya — Magha Shukla Saptami — the eldest of the Pancha Tattva. By his ardent prayers and tulsi-Ganga-jala worship at Santipur, he caused Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to descend to this world. Recognised as a combined incarnation of Maha-Vishnu and Sadasiva.
- Sri Madhvacharya Disappearance — February 24, 2027
The disappearance day of Sri Madhvacharya (Sri Ananda Tirtha) — Magha Shukla Navami — the founder-acharya of the Brahma-Madhva sampradaya, the parent line of our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya parampara. Established Dvaita Vedanta, installed the Sri Krishna deity at Udupi, and refuted the impersonalist Mayavada philosophy with 37 systematic works.
- Sri Narottama Das Thakura Disappearance — February 7, 2027
The disappearance day of Sri Narottama Das Thakura — Magha Shukla Pancami — the great Bengali Vaishnava poet-saint whose Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-candrika bhajans are central to every ISKCON morning program. Disciple of Sri Lokanatha Goswami in the line of Sri Caitanya.
- Srila Gaurakishora Das Babaji Disappearance — March 4, 2027
The disappearance day of Srila Gaurakishora Das Babaji — Phalguna Krishna Caturdashi — the renunciate babaji-acharya who initiated Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura. He lived a fully renounced madhukari life on the banks of the Ganga at Mayapur. His samadhi is at Sridham Mayapur.
- Ekadashi — January 14, 2026
The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, observed strictly by ISKCON devotees with abstention from grains and beans, dedicated to the remembrance and devotional service of Lord Krishna
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Tirobhava — July 14, 2026
Disappearance day (Tirobhava-tithi) of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura — the Seventh Goswami, rediscoverer of Sri Mayapur Dham as the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Srila Prabhupada's parama-parama-guru. He left this world in 1914 absorbed in chanting the Holy Name.
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Avirbhava — February 6, 2026
Appearance day (Avirbhava / Vyasa-puja) of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura — Srila Prabhupada's diksha-guru, founder of the Gaudiya Math, and the lion-guru who spread Mahaprabhu's teachings across India in the early 20th century. Born 1874 in Jagannatha Puri.