When: Radhaji was born on the eight day of the Shukla Paksh in the month of Bhadon. This day is known as Radha Ashtami. 

In the city of Barsana (near Vrindavan), the birth place of Radhaji, this festival is celebrated with lots of grandeur. From 5 am onwards, devotees have darshan of abhishek and aarti of the idol in the temple.

What: Whenever we remember Krishna, Radha’s name naturally crops up and we start chanting her name instead; they both are one and the same. Krishna is complete only by being with Radha. Radha is Krishna's life, his soul, and an extension of love in Krishna. Krishna manifested Radha in the female form with his will power, to see his own swaroop or form. This form of Radha fascinates even Krishna, who enchants the entire world.

Radha and Krishna are seen as one. Krishna without Radha and Radha without Krishna is incomplete and he does this cosmic leela with the power manifested by Radha. 

We celebrate Krishna Janmashtami on Krishna Paksha of the Bhadrapada month. And, just after 15 days, on the Ashtami tithi, eighth day of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon period) in the month of Bhadrapada, Shri Radhika appeared in the yagyabhoomi of Vrishabhanu ji; this day is celebrated as the birthday of Shri Radha. She is remembered with different names like Radhika, Raseshwari, Madhavi, Keshavi and Radharani. 

How: On this day, women perform abhisheka or anoints the goddess with panchamrut after bathing the idols of Radha Rani. Later Radha ji is worshiped with the family of other deities, after decorating her with beautiful flowers and new clothes to celebrate the day.

Equality of human beings is key to Sanatan Dharma; hence men and women are treated equally and gods and goddesses are worshipped together.  

The birthday of the girl child in the form of incarnated Radha is also celebrated with gaiety, which is a way of recognising and honouring the power within the girl child.

Radha is an eternal form of love. Radha teaches that true love does not ask for anything. Its nature is to keep on giving without asking anything in return, just as prakrti or nature. Love is a feeling of divine purity. Love is an expansion of one own self into the other that leads to complete surrender. In love, there is no separation between two, rather everything becomes one. One renounces everything, when in love and experiences ultimate bliss. Therefore, just by remembering and chanting the name of Radha, one is filled with love.

Radha is pure love that can only be attained by following the path of Krishna. That is why Krishna devotees are called Radhe. 

The energy power present inside our body is called Kundalini, which is the divine power of Yogmaya or Radha. On Radha Ashtami day, one meditates to awaken this power, because Radha Ashtami is a festival of Self-awakening. On this day, one purifies the body by fasting and focusing one thoughts and bhava on Radha. By fasting, the digestive fire increases and destroys the toxins accumulated in the body. Thus, a purified mind and healthy body are ready to connect with the cosmic energy.

So, keep on chanting - Shri Radhe-Radhe!