Over two lakh throng ISKCON Bengaluru on Janmashtami

Bengaluru: ISKCON Bengaluru celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami - the divine appearance of Lord Krishna on August 18 and 19, at Hare Krishna Hill, Vaikunta Hill and Whitefield. This is the most awaited festival when scores of devotees have darshan of Lord Krishna every year. Over two lakh people visited the temple on this auspicious occasion.

The deities received elaborate abhisheka, aratis, chappan bhog and jhulan seva on this occasion. Many varieties of special food preparations, including makhan mishri (freshly churned butter mixed with sugar crystals) were offered to Lord Krishna. Devotees performed cultural programmes like music and dance based on Lord Krishna's lilas. Parents dressed their children as Krishna and Radha for the festival. A special midnight abhisheka was performed, followed by a maha arati to the deities. The programme was streamed live on the social media channels of ISKCON Bengaluru. People from all over the world joined the celebrations online.

The grand finale of the Krishna costume contest was held for children at Hare Krishna Hill. Renowned music composer Chandan Shetty and actress Niveditha Gowda graced the event.

The newly inaugurated ISKCON Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple at Vaikunta Hill also celebrated Janmashtami in a grand manner. This is the first stone temple of ISKCON and its architecture is inspired by the Tirumala temple. The Lokarpana of Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple was performed by the former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in June 2022.

ISKCON Bengaluru organised the Janmashtami festival at Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation (KTPO) convention hall at Whitefield this year. There was a cultural carnival including events like music, dance, theatre shows and traditional games for children, youth and families. A flash mob of devotees enthralled the visitors at Nexus Mall, who enjoyed the festive vibes. Corporate professionals like Dr. Smitha Sarma Ranganathan, Gayathri Kupendra Reddy, Dr. Rakesh Godhwani and Vikas Maheshwari participated in panel discussions based on Bhagavad Gita.

Traditional sweets like laddu, burfi, mysore pak, holige and savouries like murukku and nippattu were prepared in huge quantities in the famed temple kitchens. Large-scale prasadam distribution was done at all three locations to the visitors on both days. Systematic arrangements were made to facilitate a comfortable darshan for all the visitors.

The Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Development, V Somanna and Tejaswi Surya, Member of Parliament for Bengaluru South and National President of BJP Yuva Morcha, were among the dignitaries who visited the temple and offered prayers to Lord Krishna.

A special video called "Dahi Handi - Joyful Song and Dance of Lord Krishna" was released on YouTube. Dahi Handi is a traditional sport played in India to commemorate the sweet pastimes of Krishna, Balaram and Their cowherd friends stealing butter in Vrindavan. To celebrate the divine birth of Lord Sri Krishna, dancers performed a Dahi Handi within the precincts of the ISKCON temple in Bengaluru.

The ISKCON Bengaluru, President, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa said, "Sri Krishna Janmashtami is a major festival celebrated all over India with great joy and devotion. I am glad to see lakhs of people visiting our temples, eagerly having the darshan of the Lord and engaging in various spiritual activities.

We conduct many programmes for people of all age groups round the year. I invite everyone to participate actively and benefit from these spiritually, intellectually and emotionally enriching experiences.

I pray to Lord Krishna to bless us all with good health, happiness and devotion." He added.