Kamika Ekadasi
2026-08-08
Kamika Ekadasi
Break fast next day: 6:45 to 11:13 am
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Pavitraropana Ekadasi
2026-08-23
Pavitraropana Ekadasi
Jhulan Yatra Begins

Break fast next day: 6:54 to 11:13 am

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Balarama Jayanti
2026-08-27
Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day
Balarama Purnima – Balarama Jayanti
Fast till Noon
Program starts at 6:30 PM
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the fountain-head of all incarnations. Lord Balarāma is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form. He is the first bodily expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and He assists in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental pastimes.”
(Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Adi 5.4-5, Purport)

JANMASHTAMI
2026-09-04 17:30 - 2026-09-05 01:00 (America/Chicago) | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Lord Krishna’s Appearance Day!
Shri Krishna Janmashtami
Fast all day!

Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day
2026-09-05
Appearance Day (129th) of ISKCON Founder Acharya, Srila Prabhupada – Vyasa Puja – NANDOSTAVA
Fast till Noon.

Annada Ekadasi
2026-09-07
Annada Ekadasi
Break fast next day: 7:02 to 11:13 am
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Radhashtami
2026-09-18 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day
Fasting till noon today.

radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayitegokula-taruni-mandala-mahite
damodara-rati-vardhana-vesehari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese
vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhelalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe
karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharitesanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite
radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite

The 16 Names of Shri Radha
(Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Shri Krishna Janm Khanda 17.220-240:)
Radha – She who is the bestower of ultimate divine bliss.
Rasesvari – She Who is the Goddess of the rasa dance.
Rasa-Vasini – She Who always lives with the rasa dance.
Rasikesvari – She Who is the Goddess of those who relish divine mellows.
Krsna-Pranadhika – She Who is dearer to Krishna than His own life.
Krsna-Priya – She Who is Krishna’s most dearly beloved companion.
Krsna-Svarupini – She Whose form resembles Krishna is so many ways.
Krsna-Vamanga-sambhuta – She Who is generated from Krishna left side.
Paramananda Rupini – She Who is the personification of supreme ecstasy.
Krsna – She Who bestows the best form of supreme liberation.
Vrindavani – She Who lives in Vrindavana.
Vrinda – She Who always lives in the company of Her girlfriends.
Vrindavana-Vinodini – She Who enjoys many pleasures in Vrindavana.
Chandravali – She Whose form has many moons.
Chandra-Kamta – She Who effulgence is like the moon.
Sarac-chandra-Prabhanana – She Whose face glows like the full moon of August.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance Day
2026-09-24 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Fast till Noon today.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur has written so many bhajans that we sing and hear in our temples. Most of you remember “Jai Radha Madhav” and “Yasomati Nandan” but click this link to see and read all the bhajans authored by Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
Listen to some bhajans from Iskcon Desire Tree.

Bhadra Purnima
2026-09-26 18:30 - 20:00
Bhadra Purnima.
“If on the full moon day of the month of BHADRA, one places Srimad Bhagavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.” (SB 12.13.13)
This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect (SB 1.3.40) This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purana (SB 1.3.43)
Please help us in this mission to spread the rays of transcendental light all across the world. We need all hands on board in order to combat the gathering gloom of this dark age. Our goal with this campaign is to place a full set of Srimad Bhagavatam in every home. The Bhadra Purnima is on September 7. Our Houston goal is to have at least 75 sets physically distributed by then. You can help by donating for a set either for yourself or for friends/relatives/etc. If you already own a set, then please sponsor further sets so that others can receive this priceless gift also. Lastly, please inquire from all who you know and convince them to accept this treasure into their homes.
Donate books or Sponsor books: https://iskconhoustonbooks.square.site/
Campaign Video – Watch here!

Indira Ekadasi
2026-10-06
Indira Ekadasi

Break fast next day: 7:18 to 11:12 am
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Dussehra
2026-10-20
Shri Ramachandra Vijayotsava
Dussehra

Pasankusa Ekadasi
2026-10-21
Pasankusa Ekadasi

Break fast next day: 10:16 to 11:13 am
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Damodar (Kartik) Month
2026-10-24 - 2026-11-24 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Month of Kartik (Damodar) October 25 and ends on 24 November 2026 (Tuesday)
Kartik Vrata begins on Oct 25.
Daily Damodar Prayers/Aarti offering at 7 am and 7 pm
Sponsor Damodara Arati for $125 for any specific day of the month. Please approach Rasikendra dasa if you want to sponsor Damodar Arati
Online donation link (click here)

Rama Ekadasi
2026-11-04
Rama Ekadasi

Break fast next day: 6:38 to 10:15 am
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Diwali
2026-11-08 18:00 - 21:00 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Diwali (Deepawali)
Festival of Lights – Candle-light Aarti
Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Ramachandra to Ayodhya. You all know the history of how Rama was banished from His kingdom into the forest. In the forest Ravana kidnapped Sita and took her to Lanka. Then Rama and Lakshmana searched for Sita. They made alliances with many monkey warriors, and eventually They came to the southern tip of India. They built a bridge across to Lanka, and eventually Rama killed Ravana, which is commemorated by Dussehra, or Rama-vijaya-dasami. Then Mother Sita was tested in fire, and she emerged pure. Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, accompanied by other associates, returned to Ayodhya. So the residents of Ayodhya, to prepare for the Lord’s arrival, placed lamps on the rooftops and balconies–and celebrated His return. Then Lord Ramachandra was installed on the throne.
So we also want to welcome Lord Rama (Lord Krishna) into our hearts. Just as we clean the temple before we install the Deity so that the temple is a fit place for the Lord to reside, similarly we each want to welcome Lord Ramachandra into our heart, to install Him on the throne in our heart. But to make our heart a proper place, a fit place, for Him, we have to cleanse it. Therefore, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, we chant the holy names of Rama and Krishna–Hare Krishna, Hare Rama–so ceto-darpana-marjanam: the heart is cleansed. Then we can welcome Lord Rama into our hearts and install Him on the throne of our hearts and celebrate His presence.
Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100’s of candles, indifferent parts of the temple, and offering a special Prasadam to the Deity. When numerous candles are lighted it is called Deepawali. Deepawali function is observed – thousands of Dipa are offered to the Deities for a special Candle-light Aarti, and Prasadam is distributed on New Year – which is also known as Govardhan Puja and Annakut Festival.
Diwali is the day when Lord Krishna enacted the Damodar pastime.

Kirtan & Aarti
Discourse
Candlelight Aarti – One of a Kind!
Prasadam Feast

Govardhan Puja - New Year - Annakut
2026-11-09 17:30 - 21:00 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Happy New Year – Govardhan Puja – Go Puja – Go Krda
The tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam relates many of Krishna’s pastimes.
Of these, “The Lifting of Govardhan Hill” is one of our most important. It tells the story of how Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill in Vrindavan for seven days and seven nights, balancing it on the tip of his small finger and thus providing a huge umbrella under which all the residents and animals of Vrindavan could find shelter from the devastating rainstorm sent by Lord Indra (god of rain and king of heaven) upon their village. When Lord Indra realized that only the Supreme Lord could defeat him in such a mystical way, he surrendered to Krishna. Traditionally, this festival is celebrated by cooking large amounts of food offerings for the Deities. It is called Anna (grains) Kuta (mountain) and takes place on the day after Diwali.
Simply called “Mountains of Food Festival” – we encourage everyone to prepare bhoga and bring before 6 PM. All bhogas are prepared without garlic, onion, mushroom, chocolate by using clean containers since these items are offered on the altar.

Kirtan & Aarti
Abhisekh (Sri Giriraj Govardhan)
Discourse
Annakut Darshan
Sunday School Students’ Govardhan Puja
Prasadam Feast

Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day
2026-11-12 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Disappearance Day – Srila Prabhupada (Founder Acharya)
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai (Fast till Noon today)
The disappearance or appearance (birth) day of great souls are equally honored. The pure devotees live for Krishna or God, and die for him. The famous prayer by Saint Francis, states that by dying we are born into eternal life. Although we lament that we will not have the physically manifest presence of our guru or a certain saint in this lifetime, we also feel happy that they are with Krishna. Prabhupada “left his body” (as we refer to death) in perfect Krishna consciousness and lived his life like that as well. We have no uncertainty about his auspicious destination, and we pray to for that same perfection by following his example!
“He reasons ill who says that Vaishnavas die,When thou art living still in sound!The Vaishnavas die to live, and living tryTo spread the holy name around.”[Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur]

Gopashtami
2026-11-17
Gopashtami is one of the most important and cheerful pastimes among all the pastimes of lord Shri Krishna. The eighth lunar day of Kartik month is known as Gopashtami. It is believed that on this auspicious day Nanda Maharaj send his children Krishna and Balrama for the first time to herd the cows. Krishna now stepped into the age of kumara from pauganda. Till the age of pauganda, Krishna was a calf keeper. After stepping into the age of Kaumara, on the auspicious day of Gopastami lord Shri Krishna started to herd the cows. To witness this incident Shri Radharani took the form of his Sakha.

Utthana Ekadasi
2026-11-20
Utthana Ekadasi (read more)
Also, Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Disappearance Day
Fast from grains/beans
Break fast next day: 6:51 to 10:21 am

Kartik Month Ends
2026-11-24
Last Day of Kartik (Damodara) month.
Shri Krishna Rasayatra

Thanksgiving Feast
2026-11-26 11:30 - 13:30
Our annual tradition of Thanksgiving Feast.
Everyone is invited.

Utpanna Ekadasi
2026-12-04
Utpanna Ekadasi (read more)
Fast from grains/beans
Break fast next day: 7:02 to 10:28 am

Mokshada Ekadasi
2026-12-20
Mokshada Ekadasi
Gita Jayanti
Advent of Bhagavad Gita

Fast from grains/beans
Break fast next day: 7:12 to 10:37 am

Happy Krishnamas
2026-12-25 | ISKCON of Houston, 1320 W 34th St,, Houston, TX, 77018, United States
Happy Krishnamas (Christmas) feast
Gifting for our Deities.
Special feast!

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Disappearance Day
2026-12-27
Disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur
Fasting till noon today.
