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 Dear Devotees,
On this most auspicious festival – Srimati Radharani’s birthday – we
would like to share this festival children’s kit with you. The purpose
of this kit is for children to connect with Sri Krishna and Srimati
Radharani, who is the greatest and dearest devotee of the Lord. We
will explore Her glories through wonderful pastimes and various fun
activities such as games, arts and crafts, stories, colouring pages, a
recipe, rhymes, word searches and much more!
We pray that this resource will help children learn more about our
beloved Sri Sri Radha Krishna to develop and deepen their
relationship with Them. The idea is that children can experience the
beauty and bliss of engaging in Krishna conscious activities!
We would like to acknowledge and thank ISKCON Desire Tree, Little
Bhakta Blogspot, Mahatma Das and The Book of Krishna Conscious
Games for their valuable resources which were used for compiling
this festival kit.
Please visit their websites for more children activities:
www.iskcondesiretree.com
www.littlebhakta.blogspot.com
Thank you very much for the important service you are rendering, of
engaging children in Krishna consciousness!
Your servants,
ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry - Children Services
Central Office – Sridham Mayapur

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 Srimati Radharani – The Topmost Devotee
Join the Dots
Maze
Sloka to Learn
The Gopis Search for Krishna – Game
Sri Radha’s Lotus Flower – Arts and Crafts
Colouring Page
Who is the Greatest Devotee of the Lord?
Complete the Face
Steps Back to Godhead - Game
Apple Halava Recipe
Srimati Radharani’s 25 Qualities Song
Sri Radha Memory Game
The Pearl Pastime
Pearl Story Play Box
Word Search
Sri Radha – The Chastest of All
Colouring Page

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Five thousand years ago, when Lord Krishna came to this planet to
perform His pastimes, Srimati Radharani also appeared. One day, King
Vrishabhanu came to the Yamuna to bathe and found himself surrounded
by a golden light. It was emanating from a lotus, which had a baby girl
inside. When the king returned to the palace with the baby, Queen Kirtida
was delighted. She was also shocked that the girl was blind.
Mother Yashoda heard that her best friend Kirtida had a baby, so she came
to visit along with her husband and her son. Krishna crawled up to the
cradle and pulled Himself up and looked in. At that moment, Srimati
Radharani’s eyes fluttered and opened wide and blossomed like lotuses. It
seems that she did not want to see anything of this world, only the form of
Sri Krishna. Everyone was delighted.

Srila Prabhupada explains to us the

position of Srimati Radharani.
We can see that Radharani and
Krishna are always together, because
Krishna is the energetic, and Radha
is the energy, the pleasure potency.
The material world is commanded
by Maya, the external energy, but
the spiritual world is conducted by
Srimati Radharani, the internal
energy of Krishna. Did you know
that the first word “Hare” in the
Mahamantra Hare Krishna is
Radharani (Hara)?

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 As living spiritual souls, we are originally spiritual energy, but
somehow or other we have now fallen into this material world of birth
and death. But when we come under the shelter of the spiritual energy,
Srimati Radharani, we come to our happy, normal position.

The word "Krishna" means all-attractive, but Radharani is so great devotee

that She attracts Krishna, so we can imagine how exalted is the position of
Srimati Radharani! Krishna actually becomes controlled by Radharani’s
pure devotion, He becomes “Her property”.
That is why we should try humbly to understand and offer Her our
obeisances, saying, "Radharani, You are so dear to Krishna. You are the
daughter of King Vrishabhanu, and You are Krishna’s beloved. We offer
our respectful obeisances unto You. If we approach Krishna through the
mercy of Radharani, we can easily attain Him. If Radharani recommends a
devotee, Krishna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be.
She will say: “Krishna, here is a devotee, he is better than me”.
That is why in Vrindavana we find that devotees chant Radharani’s name
more often than Krishna’s. Wherever we go in India we will find devotees
calling, "Jaya Radhe." Instead of offering a flower directly to Krishna, we
should put it in Radharani’s hand
and ask Her to kindly offer it to
Krishna. We should be more
interested in worshiping
Radharani, for however fallen we
may be, if somehow or other we
can please Her, we can very easily
understand Krishna. Radharani is
such a great devotee that She can
deliver Krishna to us. So on Her
appearance day, we should
worship Her with love and
devotion and ask Her to shower
Her blessings upon us and to tell
Krishna about us.

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Did you know that Krishna used to sneakily follow the gopis and steal
the butter and milk preparations they were carrying inside their pots?

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 CC Madhya Lila 13.150
vraja-vāsī yata jana,
mātā, pitā, sakhā-gaṇa,
sabe haya mora prāṇa-sama
tāṅra madhye gopī-gaṇa, sākṣāt mora jīvana,
tumi mora jīvanera jīvana
“Sri Krishna continued: All the inhabitants of Vrindavana dhama –
My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else – are like
My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vrindavana, the
gopis are My very life and soul. And among the gopis, You, Srimati
Radharani, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of my life.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………

A child is chosen to play Krishna by reciting one Hare Krishna maha

mantra. The other players represent the gopis.
They cover their eyes and count to 50 while Krishna hides. Then they
all begin to search for Him, calling to Him and chanting His name.
The first one to find Him hides in the same place, quickly and quietly.
The next players to find Him hide there too. The game continues until
all the gopis are hiding with Krishna.
Then the gopi who first discovered the hiding place plays Krishna
next. Now that player hides and the others try to find Him.

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What you need:
 Pink and yellow paper
 Scissors
 Glue
 Markers
 Lotus flower template

Steps:
1. Print out the lotus flower template on pink paper.
2. Cut it out.
3. Cut out a small
yellow circle and
glue it into the
middle.
4. Draw baby Srimati
Radharani in the
middle of the flower
and colour Her in.
5. Write Her qualities
on each petal.

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Once, Sri Narada Muni had a desire to find out who was the greatest devotee of
Lord Krishna. He thought and thought but was unable to come to any
conclusion. So he decided to approach Lord Krishna with this question. Sri
Narada Muni finally reached the Lord's palace and went inside to have His
darshana. He saw the Lord lying down and holding His head in His hands. Sri
Narada paid his obeisances to the Lord and inquired, "My dear Lord, what is the
matter? Are You alright?"

Sri Krishna told Narada, “Devarsi! Today I am suffering from a severe

headache. If I do not get the proper medicine before sunset then My life will be
at risk.”

Narada Muni became worried to hear this. He asked Krishna, “My Lord! Please
let me know what kind of medicine You need to be cured. However difficult it
may be, I will get that medicine for You.”

Krishna said, “I need the dust from the lotus feet of My devotees. If I put this
dust on My head, I will be cured.”

Narada said, “Dear Krishna, this is no difficulty at all. You have unlimited
devotees all over the universe.”

Confident of the ease of his mission, Narada Muni went straight to Krishna’s
Queen, Rukmini Devi, and informed her of Krishna’s request. Narada said,
“Krishna is suffering from a severe headache, and the only cure is the dust from
the lotus feet of His devotee. Please, Dvarakesvari, immediately give me the
dust from your feet, and I shall return to Krishna at once.

Rukmini replied, “O Devarsi! It is a matter of great concern that our husband is

suffering from a headache. But how can I give the dust of my feet to put on the
head of my husband? This is adharma. I will suffer in hell if a particle of dust
from my feet touches the head of my Lord.”

Then Narada Muni went to all the other queens but none of them would give the
dust of their feet for the same reason.

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 Narada Muni went all over the universe to many devotees, including devout
brahmanas and the exalted demigods like Brahma and Siva, but no one
would dare to give the dust from their feet to put on Krishna’s head. They
were all afraid of going to hell. Narada returned to Dvaraka, unsuccessful in
his attempts.

Krishna said,” Please go to Vraja and tell the gopis of my need.”

Immediately Narada Muni went to Vrindavana. There, on the banks of the

Yamuna River, he saw Radharani surrounded by Her sakhis. With their faces
turned in the direction of Dvaraka, they were all crying in separation from their
beloved Krishna. When they saw Narada Muni, they became very happy.
Wiping the tears from their eyes, they greeted Narada and said, “O Devarsi!
You must be coming from Dvaraka. Please tell us, how is our Sri Krishna?”

Narada Muni replied, “My Lord Sri Krishna is suffering from a severe headache
since early morning.”

The gopis were immediately alarmed. “Oh no! But tell us, how can this be
cured? Did He send you here to the forests of Vrindavana to find some
medicine? What has Syama asked for? Let us find it for you at once!”

Narada said, “Yes, My Lord has said if He can get the dust from the feet of His
devotees that will be the real medicine for Him. But I went to all His devotees
all over the universe and none agreed to give the dust of their feet. O gopis of
Vraja! If Krishna does not receive this medicine by sunset, His life will be at
risk.”

Srimati Radharani said, “Devarsi Narada! What kind of devotee are we? We are
not great devotees of the Lord. Still if He has mercifully considered us as His
devotees then immediately we are ready to give the dust of our feet.”

Immediately Radharani collected the dust of Her feet and gave it to Narada
Muni. Thus encouraged by their dearmost sakhi, all the gopis then gave the dust
of their feet. Narada was very surprised that the gopis so willingly gave their
foot dust for Sri Krishna’s head.

He said to the gopis,”Dear Vraja-gopikas, Lord Sri Krishna is worshipped

by all the great demigods like Brahma and Siva, and great yogis are
meditating on His lotus feet. Even these great personalities did not dare to

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 give the dust from their feet for the head of Lord Krishna. They know the
reaction is that they must go to hell.”

With one voice the gopis replied, “Yes, we know of this strange arrangement. If
by giving this cure for Krishna’s headache we will have to suffer in hell
eternally, then we will happily make this special contract with Yamaraja. In
exchange, we simply want to see that our most beloved, who is our life’s breath
become cured from His headache. We do not know any happiness other than the
happiness of Sri Krishna. What does it matter if we must go to hell? We have
anyway offered our very lives to Krishna. But now, we must not waste any
more time discussing this: you should go immediately to Dvaraka and give this
dust to our Syama.”

Narada Muni immediately left for

Dvaraka carrying the foot dust of
the gopis on his head. He was in
great ecstasy to be carrying this
rare treasure. When Narada
reached Dvaraka, Krishna smiled
and said, “Narada! You have
brought the foot dust of the gopis.
Now my disease is cured. Just see,
Narada! You consider yourself a
great devotee of Mine. Why could
you not give the dust of your feet
at the beginning? However, this
has taught you one thing: now you
should know these gopis of
Vrindavana are My greatest
devotees. They have given their life to Me.”

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By reciting one Hare Krishna mantra a player is chosen to be Srimati Radharani.
She stands about 15 metres away from the others, who line up in a row. She
calls out the name of the first player, saying, for example: “You may take two
giant Vamana steps back to Godhead.” The player answers, “Sri Radha, may I?”
and takes two very long strides forward. Sri Radha then calls the name of the
next player, saying, for example, “You may take 10 tiny baby steps back to
Godhead.” The next player then says, “Sri Radha, may I?” and takes 10 steps
forward, as small as possible. Sri Radha may also tell another player to do
Trinavarta steps, which means to twirl around. Sri Radha can mix the various
steps. The game continues in this way with Sri Radha calling for giant Vamana
steps, tiny baby steps, or twirling steps from each player until one player is
close enough to tag her. That player is then back to Godhead and becomes the
new Sri Radha and calls the steps after all the others have returned to the
starting place. But if any player moves forgetting to ask, “Sri Radha, may I?”
that player will lose their turn and must stay in the same place until the next
turn.

Ingredients:
 Semolina – ½ cup
 Butter – ½ cup
 Sugar – ½ cup
 Milk – ¾ cup
 Water – ¾ cup
 1 chopped apple

Instructions:
1. Add sugar, water and milk to a medium flame until the sugar is dissolved and keep
aside.
2. Add butter to another pan and let it melt. Add the semolina and stir.
3. Roast the semolina and stir continuously on low-medium heat for about 10 minutes
until it changes colour.
4. Add the heated liquid mixture slowly into the pan. Keep stirring the mixture
continuously until it thickens up.
5. Add the chopped apples.
6. Offer to Sri Sri Radha Krishna with love and devotion!

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She is sweetness personified And always gives respect

And a fresh young girl She can speak nicely and sweetly

She knows how to dress so nicely And sings expertly

And is cunning too She is modest and She is gentle

She can give shelter to all devotees And always patient

And is very grave She is enjoyed only by Krishna

She is always so brightly smiling And is always very shy

And Her eyes always move She has all auspicious marks

She is always so merciful

On Her transcendental form She is obliged by the dealings

She can excite Lord Sri Krishna Of Her associates

By Her sweet fragrance She is the greatest among

She is the abode of love Krishna’s girlfriends

Of the people of Gokula She always keeps Krishna

She is always affectionate Under Her control

To the elders and the young Jai Radhe! Jai Radhe! Jai Sri Radhe!

She is always on the highest stage

Of devotion to the Lord

Click here to find the audio for the song and sing along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02BwEJPmaI&t=67s

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This game helps with the development of memory and visual perception, while
training attention and perseverance.

We are providing a page with different circles which have Sri Radha’s name in
Sanskrit written on them.

Preparation before the game:

1. Print the page below twice on thick paper.
2. Cut out the circles.
3. Paste each circle on cardboard circles (Optional).

How to play:
Version 1 - The cards are laid face down on the table and then turned over two
by two. If they match, the player takes them and gets another move. If not, the
move goes to the other player. The task is to collect as many cards as possible.

In the beginning, take no more than 2-3 pairs for the game. Lay out the cards,
let the child examine them and turn them over. Ask the child to pick up any two
cards with both hands at the same time and check - a pair or not. Then return the
cards to their place and do the same with the other two cards.

Version 2 - Another way of playing is to arrange 5-8 circles in random order

(usually in two rows or one line). Let the child examine them and turn them
over. Show a card and ask the child to remember where the other pair card
is. You can start with three cards, gradually increasing the number.

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 - By Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami

Did you know that one time pearls had grown on vines, too, not only inside oysters?

Let’s read the story of those pearls.

One time, in the month of Kartik, everyone was preparing for the festival of Dipavali in
Gokula, near Govardhan. The cowherd men were decorating the cows and the women were
decorating themselves with different ornaments.

Srimati Radharani and Her friends were decorating themselves too, so Krishna went to them
to ask for some pearls to decorate His cows Hamsi and Harini. But the gopis quite rudely
refused. So Krishna decided He will ask for some pearls from His mother, plant them and
harvest more pearls than the gopis have!

And so He did. Although not believing in His success, Mother Yashoda agreed to give Him
pearls and Krishna planted them in the field together with His friends. Then, in a playful
mood, He asked for milk from the gopis to water them, but they again refused Him. So
Krishna watered them with milk from His own cows and after just four days, the pearl plants
started to grow. Everyone in Gokula was amazed and came to see the wonderful sight. Eight
different type of pearls were growing on Krishna’s pearl vines! The gopis came too and were
quite upset thinking that Krishna will surely not give them any of them.

So they consulted Nandimukhi, Mother Paurnamasi’s pupil, and she assured them that if they
will also plant pearls and water them with butter, they will surely grow bigger pearl trees than
the blue lotus Krishna. After all, Vrindavana is such a wonderful land, where the trees are
made of coral and gold, they have sapphire leaves and buds of diamonds and pearls, fruits of
rubies.

The gopis took all the pearls they could find in their homes, planted them and watered them
with the best of milk, butter and ghee. But to their utter disappointment, nothing but thorny
bushes grew out of them. Their parents were quite angry and themselves they felt humiliated.
Nandimukhi decided that for sure, Krishna bribed His friends with sweet rice to steal the
gopis’ pearls and planted bushes seeds instead.

To escape their parents’ anger, the gopis decided to take some gold and buy pearls from
Krishna with it. So they all assembled in the forest and started negotiating with Krishna and
his friends, having Subala as mediator. They were coming to no end in their discussions,
when Nandimukhi appeared with a message from Paurnamasi. She, being affectionate to both
gopis and Krishna, was advising the gopis to request Krishna sweetly and advising Krishna to
give Radharani and the girls the desired pearls for whatever they can offer instead. Krishna
took the best of His pearls and with His own hands, He strung the most beautiful necklace.
He placed the necklace in a golden box, engraved the name of Sri Radharani and gave it to
Her. In this way, He brought happiness to Sri Radhika and all Her gopis.

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This activity gives so much opportunity for creativity and for games which
develop fine motor skills. When the children enact Krishna’s pastimes, they
remember them easily and it stays with them for life.

What you need:

 A box
 Sand
 Large size beads (like pearls) / playdough
 Thin metal wire/ tree twigs
 Peg dolls/ clay dolls/ pictures stuck on cardboard of Krishna, Radha,
gopis, gopas, cows
Steps:
1. Take small pieces of wire and put a bead or more on it.
2. Bend it in two and twist it around.
3. Repeat steps above to make more branches, which you will clasp together to
make the tree trunk.

*If wire and beads are unavailable, you can also use a twig and make small balls
of playdough as pearls.

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 Play Time!
Enact the pearl pastime by helping Krishna bury his pearls, water them and
discover that pearl trees have appeared! You can also make a small pearl
necklace as a gift from Krishna to Srimati Radharani!

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 Find the 12 hidden names of Srimati Radharani!

Sundari Haripriya
Gopika Vrindavani
Madhavi Kishori
Rasesvari Srimati
Hemangi Gaurangi
Gandharvika Radha

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In order to prove the supreme position of Srimati Radharani, one day,
Krishna appeared to suddenly fall ill. As He lay sick, He came in
another form, disguised as a physician, and said: "O Nanda Baba and
Yashoda Mayi, I have heard that your boy has caught some disease. I
am the most expert doctor so I would like to see your son."

Then Krishna in the dress of the physician told Nanda Baba and
Yashoda Mayi, "This is a very serious disease. I want to cure Him. I
have the medicine to cure this disease but first I need a chaste lady
who will bring water from the Yamuna in a pot with a thousand holes.
Once I mix the medicine with this water, your son will be cured
immediately.”

The news spread all over Vrindavana and many ladies assembled for
this occasion. Many ladies attempted to get the water from the
Yamuna, but as soon as they dipped the thousand-holed pot into the
holy river, all the water leaked out. When the news reached Jatila’s
house, she decided to come with her daughter Kutila. They were very
proud of their chastity. Both Jatila and Kutila attempted to bring the
water but they were unsuccessful.
Mother Yashoda was extremely worried about Krishna’s condition.
She begged the doctor, “My dear doctor, please save my son. There is
no one that has been successful. You must know astrology. By
astrology you can find out who is that chaste lady who can save my
beloved son!”

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 The doctor, who was actually Krishna in disguise, cleverly said,
“The problem will now be solved! According to my calculations,
there is one such chaste lady in Vraja. Her name is Radha. Please
call Her; She is the only one that can do this task.”

Sri Radha said, “I am very happy to do anything to save Krishna.”

She humbly approached the holy Yamuna River, paid Her respects
and dipped the thousand-holed pot in the Yamuna and with no
difficulty carried the pot.
All the people of Vraja were astounded! All the sakhis chanted “Jai
Sri Radhe! Jai Sri Radhe!”
The doctor announced, “O Sri Radha! In this Vrajabhumi, You are the
chastest of them all!”

This was a tactic by Krishna

to prove Srimati
Radharani’s chastity. In this
way, the glories of Sri
Radha spread all over Vraja
dhama and She was
respected everywhere as the
chastest lady in the entire
universe.

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