Within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, the rhythm of the devotional year is shaped above all by festivals that honor the appearance and pastimes of Krishna, Radha, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Central among these are Janmashtami, commemorating the appearance of Lord Krishna, and Radhashtami, celebrating the appearance of Srimati Radharani. Gaura Purnima, the full-moon day marking the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, stands as a pivotal observance, especially for those whose bhakti is deeply informed by his teachings and example. Closely related is Nityananda Trayodashi, the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, as well as the appearance day of Advaita Acharya, both of whom are revered as foundational figures in this lineage. These days are not merely historical remembrances but living occasions for intensified kirtan, scriptural recitation, and meditation on divine mercy.

A second cluster of observances centers on Krishna’s lilas and their theological significance. Govardhana Puja recalls Krishna’s lifting of Govardhana Hill and the subsequent worship of the hill itself, while festivals such as Holi (often celebrated as Dol Yatra or Gaura Dol) and Jhulan Yatra (the swing festival of Radha–Krishna) evoke the intimate, playful dimensions of divine love. The month of Kartika, also known as the Damodara-vrata, is especially cherished, with devotees focusing on the child Krishna as Damodara and engaging in heightened vows and worship. Balarama Purnima, the appearance day of Lord Balarama, and Rama Navami, the appearance day of Lord Rama, further broaden the devotional horizon to include other key forms of the Divine recognized within Vaishnava theology.

Equally prominent are festivals linked to sacred places and forms of the Lord that were dear to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Jagannath Ratha Yatra, the great chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, holds special significance because of Chaitanya’s deep devotion to Jagannath and his ecstatic participation in this celebration. Govardhana-related observances and the veneration of holy sites such as Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda are also woven into the Gaudiya devotional calendar, especially in regions like Vrindavan where these places are physically present. These festivals underscore the Gaudiya emphasis on sacred geography as a tangible expression of divine presence.

Running like a thread through the entire year are Ekadashi observances, the twice-monthly fasting days that Gaudiya Vaishnavas regard as especially favorable for spiritual advancement. On these days, devotees typically increase their chanting, hearing, and remembrance of Krishna, treating the vrata itself as a kind of recurring festival of inner purification. Alongside these, the appearance and disappearance days of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan and other important acharyas are observed with great reverence, often in the form of Vyasa-puja or guru-puja on the spiritual master’s appearance day. In this way, the Gaudiya festival cycle not only celebrates the divine couple Radha–Krishna and their associates but also continually renews the living link to the lineage of teachers who have carried this bhakti tradition forward.