The main Grand Festival of Shri RadhaVallabh Temple is the eleven day long Festivities heralding the birth anniversary of Shri HitHarivansh Chandra Mahaprabhu, founder of the sect and the Sectarian New Year “Hitabda”. Right from the Ashtami (Eighth day of bright fortnight of Vaishakh), Holy procession, with Holy Swaroops of Shri Radha and Lord Krishna, in tastefully decorated chariot, bands and musicians, devotees parties dancing and singing devotional songs, starts from the temple and culminates at Raas-Mandal, passing through the main streets and lanes of Shridham Vrindavan. The procession, which starts in the evening, becomes a daily routine for four days in accordance of age-old tradition. The historians tell that this tradition is in remembrance of the arrival of Pandit Vyas Mishra and Tara Rani, the parents of Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu in the Royal Caravan of Emperor Humayun from Agra. Pandit Vyas Mishra was not only Royal Astrologer at the Mughal Court, but also friend, philosopher and guide of the Emperor, holding esteem and influence in the Empire. Humayun’s sister Gulbadan Begum and his personal diarist Zauhar Aftabchi had gave detailed description of the birth Festivities of His Harivansh Mahaprabhu in their memoirs that are preserved at ‘Gulistan’ archives of Teheran (Iran). The Royal Caravan arrived on this evening at village BAAD near Mathura from Agra and camped here for twelve days by the order of the Emperor. On the tenth day of the bright fortnight, the Idol at RadhaVallabh Temple is adorned in Royal Red garbs, whereas devotees keep awake whole night at Raas Mandel, singing congratulatory devotional songs (Badhai-Gaan) and Dhandhi-Dhandhidancing. On the Eleventh day of the bright fortnight, before the Mangla Aarti at RadhaVallabh Temple, Congratulator)’ Devotional songs (Badhai-Gaan) by the Samajis (Devotional singers-musicians of the Temple and devotees are sung heralding the birth of Incarnation of the Holy Flute, Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu.
Historians recall that 51-gun salute boomed to herald the incarnation of Holy Flute (Vanshi Avatar) Shri Harivansh Chandra Goswami by the order of the Emperor Humayun, The day was Monday, 11th, Shukl Vaishakh, 1530 Vikram Era corresponding to 10th. Zilkad 878 Hijri. According to various Ephemeris, Solar, Lunar and Planetary, compiled and edited by eminent Foreign and Indian Chronologists like John Warren (1825), James Princep (1831), Robert Swell (1881), Hermann Jacobi (1888), L. D. Swemikennu Pillai (1911), V.B. Ketkar (1923), Gahlot and Devra for the years B.C.1 to 2000 A.D., on Vaishakh Shukla 11, Monday appears only during 1530 whereas in 1559 the day was Thursday. Zauhar Aftabchi, the Royal Diarist and Courtier of Humayun support this. Humayun ordered on that day to have special celebrations in the Royal Court held in tastefully well decorated very large Shamiana at village Baad, which were attended amongst others by the Queen Begum Mariam Makani (mother of Akbar), Gulbadan Begum (Sister of Humayun), Beiram Khan, Tardy beg, Yaqum beg, Zauhar Aftabchi, Daust Baba, Khoja Amber, who not only congratulated Pandit Vyas Mishra on the birth of prodigal son but also offered compliments and various costly presents to him. Gala rejoicings were witnessed for next ten days having feasts on behalf of the Emperor, distribution of gifts to courtiers, the priests and the poor, dancing and singing etc. One portion of the Royal entourage was staying three Kos (about six miles) away from village Baad at Jamalpur Serai on Delhi road, where also similar festivities marked the occasion under the supervision and management of Abdul Majeed, the then Dewan of Mathura. During whole days in this period, melodious tunes of Shehnai – Naubat echoed the atmosphere whereas nights were turned into bright days with fireworks and lights. In this Special Royal Court, the Emperor and the Queen personally felicitated Jotishraj Pandit Vyas Mishra by offering costly garments, ornaments to him, to newly born prodigal child and His mother Tara Rani.
Back to the Temple at VRINDAVAN, where Curd prepared from Cow’s milk is marinated with Sandal Paste and Saffron is sprinkled by the Goswamis on the devotees, to bless them the ritual being known in colloquial traditional terminology as “Dadhi Kando”. This is followed by ritual bath of Holy Flute and Deity with Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar and Holy Yamuna water (Panchamrita Abhisheka) at Mangala itself. During Shringar, the Sanctum-Sanctorum is decorated, inside and outside with pitchers containing holy Yamuna water having ‘panch-pallavas’ (Five leaves of different holy threes), ‘Bandanwars’ (holy leaves tied in thread in a row) hung, decorated in new yellow colored garbs with various ornaments seated under a canopy having plantain trunks on its four sides. Various types of delicacies having Moothaa Laddus, Besan Laddus, and Mathari (sweet), Sweet Seva, Sakalpara, Salt Mathari, Mohan-bhog etc. offered to Deity. Congratulatory devotional couplets are sung by Samaji (Temple Musicians). Feastings, congratulatory songs and rejoicings continues till 2nd, day of Jyestha Krishna (Dark fortnight) on which day “Shashthi” (Sixth day) of Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu is celebrated with great pomp, Van- Vihar (visit to Forest Groves) and Circumambulation of Shridham Vrindavan at night with Temple Musicians (Samaj) singing devotional songs in attendance, is performed with great Serenity.