Thousands of pilgrims have come for the special puja and darshan. "The weather being comfortable and greenery all around the hills have added charm and excitement to the celebrations today. Yesterday there were singing programmes organised by the Goswami samaj of Nandgaon and Barsana," said Dhani Ram, a pandit.

 In Mathura and Vrindavan temples, special puja and darshans were held at the Dwarkadheesh and Bankey Bihari temples.

 The chief focus of celebrations is  Barsana's Sriji temple atop a hill (the temple of Radhaji).

 "Since morning pilgrims have begun arriving for a special darshan of Sri ji, amidst non-stop singing of bhajans and Braj ke Rasia's (special form of singing popular in the Braj Mandal," Pandit Ram Babu of Barsana told Agratoday.in. Barsana, a small town, beyond Goverdhan hills is more popular for its Lathmar Holi celebrations.

For the millions of Sri Krishna devotees, "Radha Rani" is the source of inspiration, strength and unconditional love, total devotion. It has a high spiritual symbolism, transcending the human physical romantic notions. Radhey Radhey is a popular form of greeting in this part," says Sachchendra Kumar Singh of Hathras, a regular visitor to Radha's shrine in Barsana.

"Sri Radha Ashtami, or Radhashtami, the birthday of Radha, falls on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha (Ashtami on waxing phase of moon) in the month of Bhadrapad (August-September). The day celebrates the relationship between Radha and Krishna – a unique relationship between god and human (world). Special prayers and pujas are held in Sri Krishna temples in North India on the day. Most important celebrations are at Mathura and Vrindavan and in ISKCON Temples around the world," explains an ISKCON functionary at Vrindavan.

Radha's birthplace is a small village called Rawal, across Yamuna, 12 km from Mathura, but her family moved to Barsana, close to Nandgaon, Sri Krishna's village.