Ashtami in the context of Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami (Sanskrit: कृष्णजन्माष्टमी, romanized: Kṛṣṇajanmāṣṭamī), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In the prominent Hindu scriptures, such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Gita Govinda, etc. Krishna has been identified as the supreme God and the source of all avatars. Krishna's birth is celebrated and observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in Shravana Masa (according to the amanta tradition) or Bhadrapada Masa (according to the purnimanta tradition).

This overlaps with August or September of the Gregorian calendar.

Radhashtami (Sanskrit: राधाष्टमी) is a Hindu festival commemorating the appearance anniversary of the goddess Radha, the chief consort of the god Krishna. It is celebrated in her birthplace, Barsana and the entire Braj region on the eighth day (ashtami) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapada in Anuradha Nakshatra at 12 noon in town of Barsana (Rawal), Uttar Pradesh, India. As per the Gregorian calendar, her birth date was believed to be 23 September 3221 BC - a Wednesday. Radhashtami falls fifteen days after Krishna Janmashtami.

In Vaishnavism, Radha is revered to as the eternal consort of Krishna and worshipped for her unconditional love and unwavering devotion towards him. The festival of Radhashtami suggests that goddess Radha is a significant aspect of the cultural-religious faith system, governing the social life of people.