ISKCON Bangalore celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami with devotion and enthusiasm on 25 and 26 August 2024, at the Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Rajajinagar, commemorating the divine advent of Lord Sri Krishna.
During these two auspicious days, thousands of devotees visited the temple to receive Lord Krishna’s blessed darshan. Comprehensive arrangements, including medical facilities, were made to ensure a pleasant and memorable experience for all visitors.
Hundreds of volunteers eagerly served in various capacities, such as managing the footwear stand, facilitating darshan queues, distributing prasadam, and assisting visitors with special needs and the elderly for a comfortable darshan.
The main temple hall was exquisitely decorated with vibrant flowers and intricate artwork. Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra and other Deities, dressed in exquisite garments and adorned with flowers and jewellery, radiated a divine splendour. A special highlight of the festival was the offering of 108 unique food items to Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra.
Throughout the day, Harinama sankirtan and melodious bhajans enriched the spiritual ambience of the festivities. Every visitor to the temple was served delicious prasadam. The celebrations also featured a mini exhibition showcasing the extraordinary life and achievements of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.
Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra received special abhisheka and Jhulan sevas on both days. Devotees also offered other sevas, such as Annadana seva and Gau seva.
The festivities culminated on the second day with an elaborate abhisheka followed by a special arati at midnight and a grand pallakki utsava, accompanied by bhajans, kirtans, and Vedic chants, marking the transcendental appearance of Lord Krishna.
During the abhisheka, the utsava Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra were bathed with various articles, including milk, ghee, curd, honey, fruit juices, herbal extracts, and scented water. Their Lordships received an enchanting arati and a shower of varieties of flowers as part of the ceremony.
On this occasion, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman and Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and President of ISKCON Bangalore, delivered an ashirvachana, emphasising the divine nature of Lord Krishna’s appearance and disappearance, the relationship between living beings and the Lord, and the means to revive that connection. He expressed that Lord Krishna can make Himself accessible to each one of us, allowing us to cultivate a personal, direct relationship with Him. He urged everyone to chant the holy name of Lord Krishna as a means of associating with Him, affirming that with Krishna by our side, we can emerge victorious in the battle of life.
As in previous years, ISKCON Bangalore hosted the online international Krishna Costume Contest for children, providing an opportunity to celebrate the festival joyfully.
To learn how to dress your child as Lord Krishna.
Watch this video for an inspiring experience of the midnight abhisheka and arati.